Janet Lim-Napoles wearing a shirt with the image of Pope Francis. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Alleged pork barrel mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles was wearing a yellow shirt bearing the image of Pope Francis during a bail hearing at Sandiganbayan on Wednesday. It turned out her birthday coincided with the pope’s arrival on Thursday.
“Nagpapasalamat ako na napili ni pope na pumunta sa Pilipinas. Nagpapasalamat ako sa Diyos na pinadala siya dito at nagkataon birthday ko pa po bukas sa pagdating niya kaya blessed,” Napoles said when asked to comment on the papal visit.
Her birthday wish, a long and healthy life.
“Sana lalo pang humaba ang buhay at walang sakit,” Napoles told reporters.
She said someone gave her the papal shirt as a gift.
“Sana ligtas yung pagpunta niya rito at pag-alis niya magkaroon na ng kapayapaan,” she said.
When asked about her personal prayer to the pope, Napoles refused to disclose it.
“Sana…secret na yun saming dalawa na lang yun. Diba pag sinabi yung prayer hindi ma-grant. Kailangan nasa puso,” she said.
Pressed if her prayer is about the pork barrel scam case, Napoles said she has long surrendered it to God.
“Hindi. Matagal na yun, sinurrender ko na sa Diyos yung sa kaso,” she said.
Napoles is currently detained for graft and plunder charges at the Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City in connection with the multibillion pork barrel scam.
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