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By Prince Golez, Manila Reporter
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Wednesday, May 10, 2017
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MANILA – Two senators deplored the acquittal of alleged pork barrel queen Janet Lim Napoles for the serious illegal detention of her second cousin and former aide Benhur Luy.
On Monday, the Court of Appeals (CA), in its 35-page decision dated May 5, 2017, said there was insufficient proof to establish Napoles’ guilt of conspiracy.
“Pork barrel queen Janet Lim Napoles is just a breath away from freedom,” said Sen. Risa Hontiveros. “With the help of no less than the country’s Solicitor General, the acquittal of Napoles seriously undermined the credibility of state witness Benhur Luy, whose testimony is the only thing keeping her and the accused high-profile public officials in jail.”
According to the lady senator, the CA decision may lead to the possible release of personalities like former senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr., who were detained for plunder in connection with the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.
“This is truly a sad day for all those pushing for justice and accountability. This is deplorable coming after the acquittal of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of plunder charges, and a hero’s burial for the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. All of these contradict the Duterte government’s anti-corruption promise,” she said.
Hontiveros also reminded the Duterte administration that “corruption” and their “failure to curb it” could lead to weakening governance.
Sen. Francis Pangilinan said the CA order to release Napoles from detention was a “bad sign.”
“Una, nangangahulugan na hindi pinaniniwalaan ng korte ang testimonya ni Benhur Luy na siya ring key witness sa mga PDAF cases, o mga kaso sa tinatawag na pork barrel. Paano na ang PDAF cases?” the senator said.
Like his colleague, Pangilinan also questioned Solicitor General Jose Calida’s move to acquit Napoles.
“Bakit pinagtatanggol ng tagapagtanggol ng bayan ang pork barrel queen. At, pangatlo, P10 billion ang nawala sa kaban ng bayan, perang dapat sana’y nagpunta sa agrikultura, sa mga proyektong makikinabang ang magsasaka, pero napunta sa bank account niya at ng ilang mambabatas. Paano na maibabalik ang perang ito,” he added.
Although acquitted from illegal detention charges, Napoles will remain in detention at Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna as she is facing other non-bailable offenses of plunder and malversation related to the pork barrel scam./PN
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