Palace hands off on Napoles summon to Malampaya probe

The alleged main characters of the P900-million Malampaya Fund scam are former secretaries and ex- and current undersecretaries of the agrarian reform, budget and finance departments, together with Janet Lim-Napoles. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines–Malacañang on Monday took a hands-off stance on whether the Senate blue ribbon committee should invite alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles to the Malampaya probe.

“Nasa pagpapasya ‘yan ng Senate committee on blue ribbon kung anong proseso ang gusto nilang maganap, kung sino ang mga resource persons na gusto nilang tawagin,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a Palace briefing.

(It is up to the members of the Senate blue ribbon committee to decide on the process they will employ and the resource persons they want to invite.)

“Ang mahalaga dito sa pagsisiyasat na ito ay madagdagan ang kaalaman ng sambayanan hinggil sa mga naganap sa paggamit ng pondo ng bayan,” Coloma added.

(What is important in this probe is for the public to gain information on how the nation’s funds are being used.)

Napoles was noticeably absent during the committee’s first hearing on the alleged misuse of the P900 million in government funds sourced from the operation of the Malampaya gas field.

Coloma pointed out that the same issue is being investigated by the Office of the Ombudsman. He added that tackling it in Congress will also help create laws promoting transparency and accountability of public officials.

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