Hearing starts on forfeiture case vs Napoles, others linked to ‘pork’ scam

Janet Lim-Napoles INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Manila Regional Trial Court on Friday started hearing the forfeiture case filed by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) against Janet Lim-Napoles and several others implicated in the pork barrel scam.

In two separate summary hearings conducted Friday by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 22, lawyers for Napoles, Benhur Luy, Evelyn de Leon, William Lim, Hector Ang, Jacqueline Ang, Nicole Tiffany Ang, Michael Yu Ty alias Stephen Ty, and Mount Apo Inn appeared during the hearings.

United Coconut Planters Bank and the Philippine National Bank sent their own representative.

Meanwhile, Manila RTC Executive Judge Marino Dela Cruz gave all the respondents up to March 14 to submit their comment and explain why the Provisional Asset Preservation Order (PAPO) should stay or should be lifted.

The Manila Court issued PAPO following the filing of forfeiture case against Napoles, her family and several others implicated in the scam by the AMLC.

The preservation order will last for 20 days or up to March 20.

Respondents questioned the jurisdiction of the court in handling the case.

But Judge Dela Cruz said the bulk of the assets are in Metro Manila.

On the other hand, the government, through Atty. Isar Pepito of the Office of the Solicitor-General was given up to March 18 to submit a reply.

The total amount in the bank accounts covered by PAPO is P119.917 million and US$696,635.02.

Covered by the PAPO aside from Janet Lim-Napoles are her husband, Jaime, and their children Jo Christine, James Christopher, Jeane Catherine, Jane Catherine, and John Christian; and Napoles’ brother Reynald Lim, also her co-accused in the serious illegal detention case pending before a Makati Regional Trial court.

Also covered are Arthur Luy, Gertrudes Luy, Simonette Briones, Ruby Tuason, Erwin Cagas Dangwa,  Florante Nacor, Flordeliz Escalera Galido, Francis Palmones Jr., Rodolfo Plaza, Shirley Marie Plaza, Maria Isabel Plaza, Energy Regulatory Commission chair Zenaida Cruz-Ducut, Ana Marie Lim, Agrikultura Para sa Magbubukid Foundation Inc., Masaganang Ani Para sa Magsasaka Foundation Inc., Bukirin Tanglaw Foundation, Countrywide Agricultural and Rural Economic Development Foundation, Masaganang Buhay Foundation Inc., People’s Organization for Progress and Dev’t Foundation Inc., Social Dev’t Program for Farmers Foundation Inc., JLN Construction and Dev’t Corp., JLN Corporation, Jo-Christine Trading, JCLN Global Properties Devt Corp, JCLN Real Estate Consortium Inc., and ZNAC Rubber Estate Corp.