DOJ can't sanitize Napoles' list -lawyer

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) cannot purge the list of alleged "pork barrel" scam operators that Janet Lim Napoles submitted, her lawyer said amid speculations that the Aquino administration will protect its allies.

In an interview with dzMM on Friday, Napoles' lawyer Bruce Rivera said that the detained businesswoman's camp has a copy of names of personalities she worked with. The list purportedly includes senators and members of the House of Representatives.

Rivera also pointed out that Panfilo Lacson, presidential adviser for rehabilitation and recovery, also possesses a partial list culled from a voice recording of Napoles. The recording was said to have been given to Lacson by Napoles' husband Jimmy, his Philippine Military Academy colleague.

"Ayon sa pamilya, may ibinigay silang listahan ng mga pangalan kay [former] Senator Lacson pero nung panahon na ibinigay nila 'yon, hindi po 'yon kumpleto," Rivera said.

"Yung kumpletong listahan po ay 'yun ibinigay namin sa Department of Justice," he added.

Lacson, meanwhile, had said that there are more than 100 names including those of former and incumbent senators in his records. While Lacson says there is a "quorum" in the number of senators mentioned, Rivera denied that there are 19 on the list.

On Monday, Napoles, the suspected scam brains, met with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to and submitted a sworn statement after a year of refusing to cooperate in the plunder case buildup.

Rivera also denied that his client is the "mastermind" of the anomaly, as she allegedly found the operation running when she became embroiled in it.

When asked who his camp thinks is the architect of the scam, Rivera answered, "Malamang po opisyal ng gobyerno."

He also reiterated that Napoles fears facing the Senate again as there might be people present who are mentioned in her testimony.

"Baka may mga senador doon na maaaring nasa listagan niya. Hindi ko po sinabing nandoon sa listahan niya talaga," the lawyer clarified.

De Lima had confirmed that at least three senators--Jinggoy Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile and Bong Revilla--were tagged by the businesswoman. The three are already facing plunder charges.