[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’Napoles’ admission to WPP confounds Poe’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’18’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY PRINCE GOLEZ
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=’18’ font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
MANILA – A senator questioned Janet Lim Napoles’ placement under the government’s Witness Protection Program (WPP).
Only those who do not appear to be most guilty should be admitted into the WPP, Grace Poe said on Tuesday.
Poe also said there should be no other direct evidence available for the prosecution.
“How can Janet Lim Napoles not appear most guilty when she has been identified as the ‘pork barrel queen’?” asked the senator.
Napoles has been accused as the mastermind of the alleged misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund, or “pork barrel.”
This exposé led to the arrest and detention of former senators Ramon Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile in 2014.
“The pieces of evidence against her even led to the indictment and detention of several high-profile public officials,” said Poe.
Poe suspected that the Department of Justice was being lazy in evidence-gathering.
“Pagdating naman sa ebidensya, tinamad na naman ba ang prosekusyon sa pagkalap ng mga ebidensya?” she said.
“Mahirap masanay sa pagdepende na lamang sa testimonya ng mismong kriminal upang pagtakpan ang kawalang abilidad ng gobyernong lumikom ng ebidensya at magpalakas ng kaso laban sa kriminal,” she added.
She said the DOJ’s Witness Protection Program was supposed to “protect and secure the qualified witnesses, so we can conclude the case.”
‘MOCKERY OF JUSTICE’
Meanwhile senators under the Liberal Party said the admission of Napoles to the WPP “would be a great mockery of justice.”
“The government must pursue her criminal prosecution instead of using the people’s money to give her refuge and protection,” they said.
They also found meeting between Napoles’ lawyer Stephen David, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II suspicious.
Earlier David disclosed these officials advised him to file the motion seeking the transfer of Napoles’ custody to the DOJ under the WPP.
“No less than her lawyer told the court that her request for transfer from the BJMP (Bureau of Jail Management and Penology) to the DOJ was upon the suggestion of Medialdea and Aguirre,” they said.
The Liberal senators added: “Malacanang’s statement that the President is taking a hands-off stance on this appears not to jibe with the actions of his top executives.”/PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
