Timeline: Pork barrel funds scam

By: 10 years ago

Janet Lim-Napoles. NOY MORCOSO III/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

July 12—The Inquirer publishes the first of its five-part special report on allegations that businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles channeled some P10 billion in congressional pork barrel funds to ghost projects and kickbacks over 10 years.

Aug. 16—The Commission on Audit announces that a special audit showed that funds totaling P6.2 billion from Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocations of 12 senators and 180 congressmen from 2007 to 2009 were transferred to 82 bogus nongovernment organizations (NGOs) “in clear violation of the law.” Ten of the NGOs, with links to Napoles, allegedly received more than P2 billion in PDAF during the period.

Sept. 16—Charges of plunder, malversation, bribery, graft and corrupt practices are filed in the Office of the Ombudsman against Napoles, Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada, and 34 other people.

2014

Jan. 28—The Ombudsman denies Revilla’s motion to stop his preliminary investigation.

April 1—The Ombudsman says it has sufficient evidence to charge the three senators with plunder.

April 7—Revilla goes to the Supreme Court to question his indictment.

May 7—Estrada files a petition for certiorari in the Supreme Court saying the Ombudsman denied him due process when it rejected his request for copies of the evidence against him.

June 4—Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales rejects the motions for reconsideration filed by the respondents.

June 6—The Ombudsman indicts Estrada, Enrile, Revilla, Napoles and other government officials in the Sandiganbayan for plunder.

June 13—The Sandiganbayan assigns Third Division headed by Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang to handle Enrile case; Estrada’s case to the Fifth Division headed by Associate Justice Rolando Jurado; Revilla’s to the First Division headed by Associate Justice Efren de la Cruz.

June 19—Court issues arrest warrants against Revilla and his coaccused.

June 20—Revilla turns himself in at the Sandiganbayan, is taken to the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame.

June 23—Estrada surrenders at Camp Crame after the Sandiganbayan issues a warrant for his arrest.

June 26—Revilla refuses to enter a plea during his arraignment. Court enters a plea of not guilty for Revilla.

June 30—Estrada likewise refuses to enter a plea pending the resolution of petitions in the Supreme Court. The court enters a plea of not guilty for Estrada.

July 4—Enrile surrenders to the PNP after court orders his arrest. He is detained at the PNP General Hospital in Camp Crame.

July 11—Enrile refuses to enter a plea; court enters a not-guilty plea for him. His lawyers go to the Supreme Court to seek intervention after Sandiganbayan rejects his motion to be shown evidence of his alleged guilt. Compiled by: Ana Roa, Inquirer Research

Sources: Inquirer Archives