Guingona asks Drilon anew to subpoena Napoles

MANILA, Philippines - Senator Teofisto Guingona III has asked Senate President Franklin Drilon to reconsider his decision not to summon alleged "pork" barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles to the Senate investigation.

During the resumption of the Senate probe on Thursday, Guingona said he has sent Senate President Franklin Drilon a letter urging him to approve the subpoena for Napoles.

"Dapat nandito si Napoles ngayon para sumagot sa akusasyon laban sa kanya but the subpoena was not signed," Guingona said in the televised hearing.

”We urge you to reconsider your decision not to approve a subpoena issued to Janet Lim-Napoles,” Guingona said in his letter addressed to Drilon.

Guingona, the chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, said he will wait for Drilon’s response within three days.

He explained that since Drilon signed the subpoena issued to Benhur Luy and other whistleblowers of pork barrel scam, there is no reason why Napoles’ subpoena "must be treated differently.”

”The government officials and even the whistleblowers have been summoned pursuant to this investigation. No logical and legal reason exists why caution, timing, and prudence are now being use to prevent Janet Lim-Napoles from attending the hearings of the Senate blue ribbon committee,” Guingona said in his letter.

Drilon has not approved the subpoena for Napoles following the opinion of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, who said "it would not be advisable, at this time" for Napoles to testify before the Senate hearing.

Morales said this is due to the charges that have been already filed against Napoles, lawmakers, and other individuals in the multi-million peso scam.

The Senate probe resumed on Thursday with six whistle-blowers attending the fifth hearing on Thursday.

They were Luy, Gertudes Luy, Marina Sula, Merlina Suñas, Arlene Baltazar and Monette Briones.

They were compelled to attend the probe on Thursday after they failed to attend the hearing on Tuesday.