enator Alan Peter Cayetano. ARNOLD ALMACEN/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines –The Office of the Ombudsman was urged by a senator on Friday to start forfeiture proceedings on the properties allegedly obtained by Janet Lim-Napoles, certain senators and individuals through the P10-billion pork barrel scam.
Under Republic Act 6770 and Republic Act 1379, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said the Ombudsman has the power to conduct a preliminary investigation on civil forfeiture upon a complaint filed by a citizen taxpayer.
A Manila court has previously issued a freeze order on the bank accounts and properties of Napoles, following the petition for civil forfeiture of assets filed by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) in February.
Cayetano said the freeze order should cover all her properties, including the pricey jewelry collection she allegedly purchased using pork barrel funds intended for Filipino families.
“Kapag nakita mo na hindi proportional ang pera ng isang public official dun sa kanyang kita ay pwede ng kunin ng gobyerno ang properties na ito. Ang tanong ko nga, meron na ba tayong na-file na forfeiture cases sa mga senador? Easier ito sa graft at plunder; ito mas mabilis,” he said in a statement.
(When you see that the money of a government official is not proportional to his income, the government may already recover his properties. My question now is, have we filed forfeiture cases against the senators? This is easier than graft and plunder, and it’s faster.)
Several reports mentioned photographs of Napoles’ alleged collection which included diamond necklaces and tennis bracelets, necklaces and bracelets with South Sea pearls, and other pieces with big precious stones.
Napoles also reportedly has shares of stocks in several corporations, and holds memberships in exclusive clubs. Napoles likewise owns a Ritz Carlton Residences condominium unit in Los Angeles, a residential lot and preschool in California, and 20 other vehicles, all of which are yet to be included in the freeze order.
Given these reported properties of Napoles, Cayetano doubts claim that the alleged “pork” scam mastermind pocketed only P2 billion from the scam.
“Bakit hindi nila ipakita yung computation? Paano naging P2 billion? Maraming pinakitang properties si Ms. Napoles na negosyo eh, may hotel sa Amerika, may sinasabi siyang coal firm sa Indonesia. Dapat isauli mo ‘yung buo,” the senator said.
(Why don’t they show us the computation? How come she only got P2 billion? Napoles showed a lot of business properties, and a hotel in America. She says she also has a coal firm in Indonesia. She should return them all.)
“Talagang inu-unti-unti nila yung pag-o-offer sa gobyerno. Parang naniniwala ako sa whistleblower na meron silang kausap para dito sa immunity o sa state witness at parang pa-unti-unti, pinapabango nila sarili nila. Kung isasauli, sino bang may ayaw? Kung’ yan ay sinauli, ilang notebook at classroom ang maibibigay sa ating mga kabataan?” he added.
(They are gradually offering (to return their wealth) to the government. I am starting to believe the whistleblower that they (Napoles’ camp) have a backer to receive immunity or become a state witness, and they are gradually painting themselves in a good light. If they would return their properties, who would oppose? If they would have returned their wealth, just how many notebooks and classrooms would we have given our youth?)
RELATED STORIES
Napoles real estate estimated at P5B