Noy raises doubts on Napoles anew

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino yesterday raised doubts anew on the credibility of alleged pork scam brains Janet Lim-Napoles, particularly her recent purported offer to return at least P2 billion of the alleged loot she had amassed from the scam.

Aquino particularly mentioned Napoles’ earlier claim that she was broke, that’s why she signed a promissory note to the Ospital ng Makati where she underwent surgery.

“She claimed she has no money to pay for her hospital bills, and now she is offering to return the loot,” Aquino said.

The President said he noticed that Napoles’ two lawyers have been issuing contradicting statements regarding the offer to return the money.

He said he has more important things to do than to think about Napoles’ changing statements.

“We have tasked investigators to determine the truth, and not to speculate,” he said.

Aquino gave the assurance that the government would try to recover whatever amount it could from the funds funneled by some lawmakers for their personal benefit.

“It’s up to the courts to determine the truth and to punish the guilty,” he told journalists on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting at the Diamond Hotel.

This developed as the President reminded a Catholic bishop to be careful about calling for the resignation of a Cabinet member over the pork barrel scandal.

“If by chance Napoles will link me to the scam tomorrow, should I be axed immediately?”  Aquino said.

He was reacting to a call of Bishop Teodoro Bacani for Budget Secretary Florencio Abad to resign out of delicadeza, as his name was mentioned in both the affidavits of Napoles and whistle-blower Benhur Luy.

“Isn’t it written in the Bible ‘judge not lest you be judged?’ But I won’t preach to Bishop Bacani. I just want my point noted, he is making too many accusations,” Aquino said as he defended Abad, a close ally and Liberal Party stalwart.

Ask Jinggoy

Aquino hinted that Sen. Jinggoy Estrada might have been aware of the alleged extortion that Napoles raised against the chief of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) during the term of his father, now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.

He mentioned this detail after the younger Estrada disclosed during a Senate hearing a purported letter Napoles sent to the Office of the President on April 17, 2013, which he confirmed.

Aquino said retired general Rodolfo Diaz, who served as Estrada’s PSG chief, was mentioned in the letter.

“Perhaps we should ask Senator Jinggoy. I’m not sure if this was the General Diaz who formerly headed the PSG during the administration of President Erap,” he said.