No Janet Napoles in Comelec audit of contributions

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes: Somebody big will be hit. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is “not hopeful” it would nail Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged brains behind the P10-billion pork barrel scam, in the ongoing audit of campaign contributions covering elections in 2007, 2010 and this year.

But Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said Wednesday the commission was poised to file criminal charges against a “high” official for violating the law that limits the amount of campaign contributions.

Speaking at the sidelines of the House plenary budget deliberations, he said the case would be ready in “one or two weeks,” and would involve parallel disqualification proceedings.

“Somebody big will be hit,” he told reporters.

Brillantes declined to identify the official to be charged in two weeks, saying only that he’s occupying a “high” position, but one that’s below that of a senator. He said the official was also not allied with the administration.