Palace supports DOJ decision to terminate witness protection for Napoles

Malacañang welcomed on Friday the decision of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to terminate the Witness Protection Program (WPP) coverage for alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said they agree with Justice Sec. Menardo Guevarra’s decision to remove Napoles in the WPP, believing she is not the least guilty of those involved in the P10-billion corruption scandal.

“We support DOJ secretary decision and agree that [Napoles] is not least guilty whose testimony is not indispensible and can be testified upon by other witnesses,” Roque said in a text message to reporters.

READ: DOJ: Napoles no longer under WPP

Guevarra on Friday said he had issued a letter to Napoles “giving notice of the termination of her provisional coverage” in the WPP, noting there were no more threats to her life that warrant her admission to the program.

“The main purpose for which Ms. Napoles had sought admission into the WPSBP [Witness Protection Security and Benefit Program] has become moot and academic. As there has been no further claim of threats to her personal security inside Camp Bagong Diwa, [we] found no reason to extend further Ms. Napoles’ provisional coverage under the WPP,” Guevarra said.

Napoles was provisionally admitted to the program under then-Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II after executing an affidavit that implicated more names in the multi-billion peso Priority Development Assistance Fund scam.  /vvp