Napoles, Luy lists implicate almost entire Senate – Lacson

MANILA, Philippines – Two potentially explosive lists include up to 21 current and former senators – almost enough to fill an entire Senate – allegedly involved in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam.

Rehabilitation Secretary Panfilo Lacson revealed this on Monday, May 12, as he urged the Senate to summon the alleged pork barrel scam mastermind, Janet Lim Napoles, to testify on the so-called Napoles list.

He used the Napoles list and another by the pork scam whistleblower, Benhur Luy, as basis in saying 21 senators “over a span of so many years” have been implicated.

A former senator himself, he described 12 of the 21 senators, or more than half, as incumbent. These incumbent senators make up half of the 24-member Senate.

They also include the 3 who already face charges in the country’s biggest corruption scandal in recent years, he said.

Plunder complaints have been filed before the Ombudsman against public officials led by 3 opposition senators – Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.

Lacson to turn over list 

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, for his part, has asked the Senate Blue Ribbon committee to compel Napoles to testify before the Senate and produce the controversial list.

Napoles has been detained but is still confined at the Ospital ng Makati after a surgery.

Lacson said he is willing to go to the Senate if it summons him, but will likely request for an executive session. In any case, he said he will turn over the Napoles list to the Senate.

President Benigno Aquino III himself has admitted seeing two versions of the list, adding that Lacson also gave him “highlights” of the list that the former senator has. In short, the President said, he’s aware of 3 lists that don’t match.

Lacson said in a mix of English and Filipino, “I can only attest to the authenticity, probable authenticity, but as to the truthfulness of what is contained in those 3 sets of documents, I cannot testify. Because only Napoles can testify to that.”

He also warned against a “sanitized” list that excludes administration allies.

Napoles reportedly said she is willing to come clean on the issue, but the justice department said it is still vetting Napoles’ claims.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima explained: “By law and Constitution, yes, the Senate can compel me to disclose the list, under pain of contempt. But I will appeal to them to wait for the proper time and give me enough space to discharge my mandated tasks with utmost responsibility.” – Paterno Esmaquel II/Rappler.com