SUMMARY
This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
MANILA, Philippines – There was euphoria on social media Wednesday night when news broke that Napoles is in government custody. However, it was incredibly short lived.
Twitter immediately came alive with 23,000 online mentions based on a scan of Facebook, Twitter, blogs, news sites and comments from 9:30pm to midnight, August 28.
The first salvo of tweets last night about Janet Lim-Napoles’ arrest were all euphoric. Netizens were even joking about who will get the 10m reward now that the government has her in custody.
Thank You God! Sumuko na rin si Napoles at nasa Camp Crame na siya.
— PMB (@onthewaypat) August 28, 2013
Not a bad day for justice. Several retired cops surrender peacefully, Napoles surrenders to Pres Aquino. A good day all ’round!
— Leah Navarro (@leahnavarro) August 28, 2013
As soon as the euphoria died down, netizens started to look for details behind her arrest. During the press conference last night, DILG secretary Mar Roxas’ said that Janet Lim-Napoles was brought to Malacañang where she surrendered to President Aquino. Earlier that day, Napoles’ lawyer Lorna Kapunan called Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda to send surrender feelers after the President announced a P10-M reward for Napoles’ arrest. Negotiations started around lunch time with the surrender happening at 9:37pm.
Secretary Roxas added that there have been no discussions so far about turning Napoles into a state witness. He added that “Napoles surrendered because she feared for her life.”
Netizens aren’t buying it.
I don’t believe Napoles would surrender just like that. I just don’t buy that kind of crap. There’s definitely something we aren’t aware of.
— Katrina Lustre (@kali_louise) August 28, 2013
Glad to know Janet Napoles surrendered. Let’s see if she will spill the beans. I wonder if there were conditions for her surrender.
— Noem Lardizabal-Dado (@momblogger) August 28, 2013
The New Angst
As soon as Roxas mentioned the possibility of turning Napoles into a state witness, social media reacted immediately. A new online angst was born.
Based on a Radian6 analysis, most of the next 15,000 mentions about Napoles’ arrest from midnight last night to 4pm today, August 29, were online discussions about the possibility of turning her into a state witness. Even Sen Miriam Defensor Santiago said it will be difficult for Napoles to be a state witness.
Netizens also heavily discussed the supposedly special treatment she received while being processed at Camp Crame, and her unusual privilege of being the first fugitive in 65 years to surrender to a Philippine president.
As of 6pm on August 29, 60% of the sentiment is negative: people are angry about the possibility that Napoles could become a state witness and escape prosecution. The other 40% is positive largely because they believe that if Napoles turns state witness, the public will learn more about the masterminds behind the pork barrel scam.
Possiblty of making Napoles a state witness will just affirm that we’re still taking Daang Balubaluktot. Steal 10B & b a state w. Tsk tsk…
— cholay (@cholaytweets) August 29, 2013
Nakaka suka isipin gawing state witness si #napoles but we have to choose the lesser evil to catch the bigger crooks.
— Patrick H. C. Nalo (@n_patrick_h) August 29, 2013
Dear Goverment, we want Napoles to be prosecuted not to be just a state witness. We want her in jail for life together w corrupt officials.
— Chris ★ Garcia (@XsGarcia) August 28, 2013
Janet Lim–Napoles as a state witness?
Social media says pay for your crimes, then we’ll talk. – Rappler.com
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