THE US move to seize $12.5-million assets of Janet Lim-Napoles, alleged brains behind the pork barrel scam, will have no negative effect on her case, both criminal and civil pending before various courts in the Philippines, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said.
“On the contrary, it will complement and bolster our cases, both the civil case for forfeiture before the RTC (Regional Trial Court) and plunder/graft cases before the Sandiganbayan,” de Lima said in a text message.
She said the Philippine government is also helping the US in the civil case against Napoles.
De Lima said if the US government would be successful in seizing the assets of Napoles, they would ask that it be turned over to the Philippines.
“It is US policy to keep no share of stolen money,” de Lima said, citing the case of former Armed Forces of the Philippines comptroller Carlos Garcia whose seized assets were turned over to the Philippines.
The US Department of Justice said Napoles moved $12 million to US accounts in the names of, or controlled by, her family, and used the money to buy a condominium in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, a motel, and other properties.