Janet Lim-Napoles (File photo by RICHARD A. REYES / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Two opposition lawmakers believe Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has been “weaponizing” alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles against the opposition to the Duterte administration.
Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said Aguirre was engaged in a “scheme” to use Napoles against the critics of the administration.
“Classic example itong kay Napoles. Siya ang most guilty bakit sya ang gagawing state witness?” Alejano asked in a media briefing on Tuesday.
“Maliwanag na gagamitin lamang ito upang balikan ang oposisyon dahil pwede nilang gamitin na magtuturo kahit kanino,” he added.
Lagman echoed Alejano’s concerns, saying: “Secretary Aguirre is not lawyering for Napoles. He is weaponizing Napoles against the political opposition.”
The remarks of the lawmakers came after lawyer Stephen David, lead counsel of Napoles, told reporters that he had filed the motion for his client’s transfer of custody after consulting Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Aguirre.
READ: Napoles says Palace gave her legal advice
But Medialdea had already denied this saying: “Why would I give a legal advice to a lawyer for his client? If I were his client, I will fire him.”
READ: Medialdea rebuts Napoles lawyer: ‘Why would I give legal advice for his client?’
On the other hand, Aguirre confirmed that he and Medialdea were consulted by David. But what they gave the lawyer was a mere “opinion,” not legal advice.
READ: Aguirre on Palace meeting with Napoles counsel: Mere opinion, not legal advice
According to Lagman, this meeting between the camp of Napoles and Duterte’s men “discredits the statement of the Palace that they are not interfering in any way in anointing Napoles to be a witness.”
For his part, Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin renewed his call for Aguirre to resign for “not doing his job.”
“While Aguirre was quick to wash his hands in the dismissal of the drug cases against suspected drug lords… he is so busy talking to Napoles and her lawyers,” Villarin said.
“You have here the Secretary of Justice not doing his job to go after alleged drug lords and to address this issue of drugs,” he added. “It’s high time that the call for his resignation be sounded and the Palace should hear the issues against Aguirre.”
Napoles was temporarily granted protection starting Feb. 27, 2018 after she executed an affidavit, which is now being assessed by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
READ: Napoles, pork scam ‘brains,’ gets gov’t protection
After admitting that he had talked with Napoles’s lawyer, Aguirre said Napoles was now ready “to tell all” about the P10-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam. /atm