Napoles lawyer expresses reservation over NBI-DOJ probe of bank records

Janet Lim-Napoles. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – While welcoming an investigation into the P10 billion scam involving the misuse of the lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or “pork barrel”, a lawyer of the alleged mastermind expressed reservations about the same task force handling the inquiry and said that to have other government agencies handle it would be a “prudent” thing to do.

At the same time, Janet Lim-Napoles’ lawyer, Bruce Rivera, said they also have yet to discuss with their client on whether she would allow the examination of her bank records.

“If there is an NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) and Ombudsman inquiry then go ahead, we have no problem with that,” Rivera told reporters Wednesday.

However, Rivera said they have reservations about the NBI-Special Task Force being involved in the inquiry.

“Me, personally, even as a lawyer, I would have reservation,” Rivera said.

When asked if she preferred other government agencies to perform the investigation, Rivera said, “That would be a prudent thing to do.”

The task force, Rivera was referring to, was the same team that rescued whistleblower Benhur K. Luy, former employee of Napoles at JLN, which she heads, who claimed he was kidnapped by the businesswoman’s brother Reynald “Jojo” Lim for planning to strike out on his own with a scheme similar to JLN’s.

Luy spilled the beans on Napoles and the NBI brought kidnapping charges against Napoles and Lim to the Department of Justice (DOJ), which then opened an investigation into Napoles’ activities.

Lim was arrested and briefly detained while Napoles submitted an affidavit to the NBI denying involvement in Luy’s kidnapping.

The DOJ, however, dismissed the complaint for “lack of probable cause.”

Napoles and Lim were allegedly behind the misuse of pork barrel funds of senators and congressmen for ghost projects.

Last Monday, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima confirmed that the NBI was coordinating with the Anti-Money Laundering Council to join the investigation.

On whether she will allow AMLC to examine her bank records, Rivera said, “It is unfair for me to answer it right now [because] I might pre-empt what she will do.”