Senate to summon Napoles in pork barrel probe

Sen. Francis Escudero INQUIRER PHOTO/DELFIN T. MALLARI JR./INQUIRER SOUTHERN LUZON

MANILA, Philippines—Senator Francis Escudero said Friday that Janet Lim-Napoles, alleged mastermind of the P10 billion-peso pork barrel scam, would be made to testify in the Senate blue ribbon investigation first before the whistleblowers.

“In order to shed light into [the pork barrel scam] because she is in the center of all this,” Escudero told reporters in a briefing.

“Alangan naman na hindi namin siya imbitahin na parang takot kaming marinig ang kanyang sasabihin (Its not like we will not invite her because we are afraid to hear what she might say,)” Escudero said.

Napoles allegedly formed several bogus non-government organizations to siphon off P10 billion from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of lawmakers over a 10-year period.

The Senate is conducting an inquiry into how several senators channeled their PDAF into the fake NGOs. Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, and Ramon Revilla Jr. have repeatedly been mentioned as among those who allocated their PDAF to NGOs linked to Napoles.

Asked weather the three senators would be called to the Senate’s inquiry, Escudero said that it would be up to them if they want to appear.

“The Senate has decided to leave it up to them whether they will attend the hearing or not,” Escudero said.

“Whoever’s name was mentioned has the right to air their side in the same forum and venue where his/her name was mentioned,” he said.

The Senate blue ribbon committee conducting the investigation cannot compel them as they can just invoke their right to remain silent.

Even then, Escudero said that “no one can accuse the Senate of using kid gloves or protecting their fellow senators.”

Escudero also said that the committee so far only has testimonial evidence from the implementing agencies regarding the three senators. Whether they have liabilities could not yet be established, he said.

“What is clear is that the implementing agencies already have liabilities. They did not comply with the Commission on Audit’s procedures regarding the procurement of services of NGOs,” Escudero added.