De Lima to Sandra Cam: Why meddle in our work?

JUSTICE Secretary Leila de Lima asked whistle-blower Sandra Cam why she is meddling in the government’s investigation on the third batch of cases in connection with the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.

Cam said if de Lima fails to file the third batch of PDAF cases next month, she could expect dirt to be thrown at her planned senatorial run.

“Isa pa yan, ano naman pakialam niya diyan? Bakit nakikisawsaw pa s’ya,” de Lima told reporters.

The current and former lawmakers reportedly included in this batch are Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Joel Villanueva, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, La Union Rep. Victor Ortega and Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing.

De Lima said they are still waiting the findings of the body tasked to handle the third batch of PDAF case because they want to have a “solid case” before transmitting the case to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Last April, de Lima had said that the third batch of PDAF cases was no longer a priority of her office. But after drawing flak from various sectors, she took back her words and said the cases would be finalized in two weeks.

The first batch PDAF-related criminal charges were lodged in September 2013 against 38 individuals, including Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Revilla, as well as alleged fund scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

The second batch, filed two months later in November 2013, involved graft complaints against former Customs Chief Ruffy Biazon and 33 others.