Senate eyes immunity for Napoles
MANILA, Philippines - Alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles may be granted immunity if only to convince her to tell all when she faces the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, according to panel vice chairman Sen. Sergio Osmeña III.
“We have the authority to grant immunity. We have done that in the past,†he said.
A subpoena was issued for Napoles to appear before the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on Nov. 7.
“I want her to identify all the congressman and senators that she has been bribing. The whole nation is dying to hear Napoles, and they are dying to hear Napoles because they want to hear the truth,†Osmeña said.
“Will this happen? I don’t think so. Unless we offer her to become state witness, which means immunity from prosecution, she’s not going to say anything. That’s just my opinion,†he added.
Osmeña recalled that the Blue Ribbon committee during its inquiry into the alleged irregular purchase of helicopters by the Philippine National Police in 2011 placed Lionair Inc. owner Archibald Po under the Witness Protection Program (WPP).
Section 4 of Republic Act 6981 or the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act, states that a witness, with his express consent, may be admitted into the program upon the recommendation of the legislative committee where his testimony is needed.
The law states that the Senate President or the Speaker must approve the recommendation.
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