Whistleblowers detail Napoles operations and properties

MANILA, Philippines – The woman at the center of the pork barrel scam allegedly got her hands on other funds too.

At the Senate hearing on the pork barrel scam, whistleblowers reveal details of Janet Napoles’ operations.
Ayee Macaraig reports.

Janet Napoles is still a no-show but witnesses say she’s present in more ways than one.
They say she’s involved in bigger scams than the pork barrel.
Benhur Luy and the whistleblowers give the Senate a virtual tutorial: how to prepare documents to tap lawmakers’ development funds.
Luy says Napoles gave legislators their kickbacks in advance.
The source? Public money from earlier rip-offs.

BENHUR LUY
PRINCIPAL WHISTLEBLOWER
Liquid po si Ms Napoles, kaya magpaluwal, kumukuha sa DAR. JC 50% upon listing, 50% upon SARO. Pagkatapos nire-remit na namin kay Ms. Napoles, wala nang hatian kasi pinaluwal na niya nang nauna. P900M lang po nakulimbat ni Ms. Napoles sa Malampaya. (Ms. Napoles was liquid, she could afford to pay in advance. After collections come in and we remit to Ms. Napoles, the balance went to her since the others were paid in advance. She plundered a total of 900M from the Malampaya fund.)

Witnesses say the fund went to ghost deliveries, shocking first-time senators.

SONNY ANGARA
PHILIPPINE SENATOR
Pinalabas na ang P900M ay para sa magsasaka na tinamaan ng bagyong Ondoy. So ang nakikita ko dito Mr. Chairman ay di lang ginisa sa sariling mantika ang mamayang Pilipino, kundi doble gisa, triple gisa. (They made it appear as if the P900M will go to farmers hit by Tropical Storm Ondoy. What I see here Mr. Chairman, is that the rip-off was inflicted on the Filipino people not just once, but twice, thrice even.)

Whistleblowers also testify how Napoles’ NGOs easily got funds using fake documents and signatures.

MARINA SULA
WHISTLEBLOWER
Tumutulong ako mag-liquidate pag kailangan, sa list of beneficiaries, kami ni Janet, Jo Chris, James Christopher, John Lim nagpipirma from 2009. Sa sobrang dami, driver, kasambahay, gardener, inaabot kami ng 12am or 10pm sa office. (I helped liquidate when needed, by creating a [bogus] list of beneficiaries– all of us– Janet, Jo Chris, James Christopher, John Lim, we would all sign since 2009. Due to the huge demand for signatures, the drivers, the domestic helpers, the gardener, we would stay at the office signing until 12am or 10pm. )

Napoles’ former bookkeepers also confirm Rappler reports Napoles and her family own a condo unit at the Ritz Carlton, and the Anaheim hotel in California.
Marina Sula also says Napoles used companies like La Roca Enterprises to acquire properties.
Sula adds Napoles has at least 20 properties spread out in Makati to Bulacan, Laguna, Antipolo and even North Cotabato.
The whistleblowers also confirm meeting with the staff of Senators Bong Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile.

MARINA SULA
WHISTLEBLOWER
Sinabihan ako ni Ms. Napoles maghatid ng pera sa bahay ni Ruby Tuason. (I was told by Ms. Napoles to bring money to the house of Ruby Tuason.)

BENHUR LUY
PRINCIPAL WHISTLEBLOWER
Kilala ko po sina Pauline Labayen, Richard Cambe. (I know Pauline Labayen, Richard Cambe.)

Q: Di kayo nagkausap ni Gigi Reyes? (Did you talk to Gigi Reyes?)

Opo, tungkol sa Cohen diet. (Yes, we talked about the Cohen diet.)

Senators now say only the testimony of Napoles is missing to complete the story.
Senator TG Guingona points out she was also absent from the Senate probe into the fertilizer fund scam in 2008 where she too was implicated.
From the fertilizer scam to the pork barrel and Malampaya controversies, Napoles evades the Senate for the third time. While senators and observers clash on the wisdom of summoning her. They agree it’s high time she answers for allegedly squandering taxpayers money for a life of fame and fortune.

Ayee Macaraig, Rappler, Manila. – Rappler.com