Kapunan resigns on last day of bail hearing

MANILA, Philippines – The woman defending alleged pork barrel queen Janet Napoles resigns. 

Bea Cupin tells us more about the events leading up to the resignation of controversial lawyer Lorna Kapunan.

On the last day of Janet Lim Napoles’ bail hearing, lead counsel for the defense Lorna Kapunan is absent. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima confirms, the woman who has been the sole defender of Napoles, has resigned. Instead, collaborating counsel Alfredo Villamor takes the spotlight in the cross examination of Luy. Villamor said even he did not know of Kapunan’s plan to withdraw as Napoles’ counsel.

ALFREDO VILLAMOR, NAPOLES COLLABORATING COUNSEL: No, no, I didn’t know. I do not know. I do not know my role yet but as far as I am concerned, I am limited to this serious illegal detention case.

Villamor is not part of Kapunan’s team. He was also the lawyer of Napoles’ JLN Corp. During Luy’s cross examination Tuesday, November 29, Villamor said he and Luy are friends. But he says it didn’t affect his questions.

ALFREDO VILLAMOR, NAPOLES COLLABORATING COUNSEL: No, no of course not – on the merits lang.

Lawyers close to the case say Kapunan resigned out of differences in strategies with Villamor.

ALFREDO VILLAMOR, NAPOLES COLLABORATING COUNSEL: I don’t know. May kanya-kanya strategy kasi ang lawyers and maybe to us, that’s what the case warrants. ( I don’t know. Lawyers have their own strategies and maybe to us, that’s the strategy the case warrants.)

In an interview on radio, Kapunan insists pressure was not a factor in her decision to withdraw. Kapunan explained that as a “matter of courtesy,” she went to court Wednesday morning to inform the judge and the prosecution that Villamor “will take over the case.” She just needs the written consent of her client before formally withdrawing as counsel.

DIOSFA VALENCIA, MAKATI RTC: Siguro parang intention, but I’m not aware. Sila lang kasi nag-usap ni judge, parang may intention lang siguro but I do not know kung ano talaga pinag-usapan. (Maybe there’s an intention [to withdraw as counsel], but I’m not aware. Only Kapunan and [Judge Alameda] spoke to each other. There may be intention but I do not know what exactly they talked about.)

A week before, Kapunan lamented Napoles condition inside her detention center. Napoles is detained at Fort Sto Domingo in Laguna while her brother is still at large.

LORNA KAPUNAN, NAPOLES LAWYER: We have been told by her doctors that she has been taking tranquilizers to calm her down. Well she’s isolated, she’s alone by herself at night and it is natural for a person who is alone at night to be talking to herself and imagining things.

In the past, the lawyer has repeatedly said prosecution’s evidence is weak.

LORNA KAPUNAN, NAPOLES LAWYER: So far, I think I can confidently say without mentioning details that the prosecution has miserably failed to show that bail should be denied.

As the bail hearing ends, it will be up to presiding Judge Elmo Alameda whether to allow or deny Napoles’ bail plea — with or without Kapunan by her side.
Bea Cupin, Rappler, Manila. – Rappler.com