Baligod casts doubt on Napoles list from Lacson

MANILA, Philippines — Plunder complainant Levito Baligod cast doubt on the authenticity of the so-called affidavit of Janet Lim Napoles and list of officials in the "pork" scam that former Senator Panfilo Lacson submitted to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Tuesday.

Baligod, lawyer of "pork barrel" scam whistleblowers Merlina Suñas and Gertrudes Luy, said that Napoles might have been coaxed by a politically motivated party to lend her name on the affidavit.

"Naniniwala ako na mayroong naghanda sa papel na 'yan, hindi si Ginang Napoles at ang mga tao sa likod ng papel na 'yan ay 'yung mga nasasakdal ngayon, na hindi niya idiniin sa papel na 'yan at hindi pa niya isinali," Baligod said in an interview over dzMM on Wednesday.

Baligod filed the initial plunder charges against Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr., now indicted for the alleged involvement in the multi-billion peso congressional funds mess.

"Hanggang ngayon, nagsisinungaling pa rin si Ginang Napoles at hindi siya dapat paniwalaan," he added.

Lacson, earlier, said that Napoles' family handed him the unsigned statement before the detained businesswoman and suspected scam brains approached the Department of Justice.

View: Lacson's 'Napolist list' bared

Baligod said he has read and studied the documents from Lacson, but several names in the list are not backed by evidence.

"May mga sinasabi siya d'yan na imposibleng magkaroon siya ng personal knowledge pero nailagay d'yan ... Hindi ko maintindihan 'yung batayan niya sa paglista ng mga senador at congressmen," said the lawyer.

Baligod represented whistleblower Benhur Luy in lodging serious illegal detention charge against Napoles, which eventually led to her arrest.

Wrong, omitted names

Baligod said that there are names in Lacson's list that are not supposed to be there, and there were also alleged collaborators that have been omitted.

"Mayroon din ho siyang hindi isinali. Pero mayroon din siyang isinali na tatlo na hindi dapat kasali dahil alam ko po 'yung kwento tungkol sa tatlong seating senators na 'yan," Baligod said.

He said that a certain senator refused to direct his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to a Napoles-linked non-government organization, but his name was still included in Lacson's list.

Nine incumbent and two former senators including the late Senator Robert Barbers are tagged in Lacson's Napoles list.

"So kung nagsali siya ng hindi na incumbent, e hindi niya isinama 'yung mga lima pang senador na hindi na senador ngayon," Baligod said.

Baligod also pointed out that Enrile's former aide Jessica "Gigi" Reyes was not listed among the agents in the unsigned affidavit.

He also belied Abad's involvement in the PDAF scandal as stated in the draft testimony.

Baligod affirmed Abad's statement that Napoles first attempted to approach him in 2012.