Bishops also want 'Napoles list' made public

MANILA, Philippines -  Bishops have joined the calls for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to make public the list of former and incumbent legislators and government officials who dealt with businesswoman Janet Napoles.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabilla said that the longer Justice Secretary Leila de Lima prevents the "Napoles list" from being made public, the more bishops will suspect that the government is sanitazing it to protect allies of the Aquino administration.

"It should be made public and concerned public officials should be held accountable as soon as possible. The longer de Lima withholds, it will make us more suspicious. The truth will set us free, even if it hurts," Bishop Pabillo told Church-run Radyo Veritas.

The prelate said revealing the Napoles list will show the sincerity of the current administration to stamp out corruption in the government, holding accountable officials even if they are close to President Benigno Aquino III.

For his part, San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said the list is just to verify what the general public already knows about those involved in the P10 billion pork barrel scam.

"Kailangang ilabas para ma-verify. Alam naman na natin kung sino ang nandun," Bishop Alminaza said.

Napoles gave the list to De Lima who visited her a day before she went underwent a surgery at the Ospital ng Makati.