Video by INQUIRER.net’s Ryan Leagogo
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said he would file perjury and libel charges against Janet Lim-Napoles for dragging him into the “pork barrel” scam.
Pimentel issued the statement as he vehemently denied funnelling a single centavo of his Priority Development Assistance Fund to Napoles or any of her non-government organizations.
“You can check the record of my PDAF, she did not get a single centavo, much more P10 million. Not a single centavo went to Janet Lim Napoles or an NGO controlled by her or any NGO because I have no PDAF that was implemented by an NGO,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino an interview.
Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net
“I will really file libel and perjury charges against her because I am not happy anymore with what she has been doing,” he added.
Pimentel said he would talk to his lawyers first to discuss about his plan.
The senator though admitted that Napoles asked for his “pork barrel” funds after they met sometime in May, 2012. He said he did not know Napoles but agreed to meet because of a friend.
“After the meeting, she requested for PDAF. I said no right into her face. She did not get anything from me. So why is she insisting that we had a transaction? It makes me wonder, why does she insist that there was a transaction, an advance. Advance for what? What project did she get?” asked Pimentel.
In her affidavit submitted to the Senate blue ribbon committee, Napoles claimed that a certain Louie Cruz, who served as Pimentel’s agent, gave a P4 million “advance” to the senator’s ex-wife, Jewel.
But Pimentel said his ex-wife denied the allegation when he asked her about it.
The senator also threatened to stop the passage of a bill, decriminalizing libel, saying he was not happy about the media’s “treatment” of the scam.
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Pimentel admits Napoles requested his ‘pork’ funds