Lawyer denies Napoles vowed to return P2 billion to gov’t

Lawyer Bruce Rivera, counsel of Janet Lim-Napoles. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—One of the lawyers of Janet Lim Napoles on Thursday clarified that there was never any offer on their part to return P2 billion or any amount to the government.

“In all honesty, there was never any offer on our part of a definite amount because we don’t want to preempt the government who will make conditions on our application,” Napoles’ lawyer Bruce Rivera said in a statement.

“However, we are steadfast in cooperating with the government and follow the conditions of our application,” he further said.

Reports earlier came out quoting another Napoles lawyer, Stephen David, that Napoles was willing to return the P2billion she purportedly earned from the pork barrel scam.

Rivera said David was taken out of context.

“What was being emphasized was the fact that what was charged was less than P2 billion, not P10 billion. Hence, if ever there is an amount to be returned it should be based on the amount in the complaint, which is less than P2billion,” Rivera clarified.

They also denied meeting with Benhur Luy’s lawyer and sought the dropping of the serious illegal detention case.

Rivera said David’s encounter with Atty. Raji Mendoza, Luy’s lawyer, at the National Bureau of Investigation was only by chance “and had a casual conversation and nothing more.

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