More ‘pork’ cases coming – Noy

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino disclosed more cases against those allegedly involved in the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel fund scam were being prepared, contrary to criticisms that the investigation had stopped and justice was selective.

Aquino said in a TV5 interview aired Sunday night that he did not know where the perception that they were no longer pursuing the others named in the pork barrel scam came from.

“There is a second set forwarded by the DOJ (Department of Justice) to the ombudsman, then I know there is a third set being completed, the gathering of evidence to be given to the ombudsman,” Aquino said, stressing that it was the job of the ombudsman to evaluate the evidence and file charges before the Sandiganbayan.

The President said those initially charged were the ones who figured repeatedly and prominently in the course of the investigation and evaluation of evidence.

“There’s what you call multiple incidence,” Aquino said, referring to the alleged involvement of Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. in the pork barrel scam.

He said it would also be good if the ombudsman could file strong cases and not leave things to chance for conviction.

“Because I always explain, filing of cases is not an achievement; the measure is how many were jailed as opposed to those charged. We can file charges that are shallow, then dismissed. And then you can no longer file charges against the person for the same offense,” Aquino said.

Aquino was asked about Sen. JV Ejercito’s statement that the Senate Blue Ribbon committee should continue its investigation of everyone – including administration allies – implicated in the congressional pork barrel scam and not stop at the three already detained opposition senators.

Ejercito made the call in reaction to a recent Pulse Asia survey showing that a majority of Filipinos believed that the Blue Ribbon committee probe into the PDAF scam was not fair because it seemed to be targeting only those not allied with the administration.

Senator Estrada, Ejercito’s half-brother and one of the senators detained on plunder charges in connection with the pork barrel scam, said he felt vindicated by the survey findings, since it proved his contention that the executive branch and the Blue Ribbon committee had not been fair and objective, and that what was happening was a case of selective justice.

Estrada said the committee, chaired by Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, was used to demonize Enrile, Revilla and himself and had “publicly convicted them before the bar of public opinion.”

Napoles seeks SC relief

Detained businesswoman Janet Lim- Napoles, the alleged pork barrel scam mastermind, has sought relief from the Supreme Court (SC) in her bid to stop the plunder and graft cases in the Sandiganbayan.

In three petitions filed by mail last Aug. 13, Napoles asked the high court to void the resolutions of the Office of the Ombudsman approving her indictment as principal accused in the separate plunder cases against Senators Enrile, Revilla and Estrada. 

Through her lawyers led by Stephen David, she also urged the SC to order the recall of the arrest warrant issued against her by the anti-graft court divisions handling the three cases.  – With Edu Punay, Michael Punongbayan