Ombudsman Morales: We don’t need Napoles

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Is Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales open to having alleged pork barrel scam operator Janet Lim-Napoles as a state witness?

“That would depend if our evidence is not strong. As far as I’m concerned, our evidence is strong,” Morales told GMA News in an interview Friday night, April 25.

Morales insisted the pork barrel cases they will be filing before the Sandiganbayan are supported by robust evidence, suggesting they do not need Napoles’ testimony.

The Ombudsman’s statement effectively undermined Napoles’ recently executed affidavit facilitated by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. (READ: Napoles wants to be state witness – De Lima)

“She said she’s ready to speak up, she’s ready to tell all and would execute an affidavit. That’s why we took her statement now. I agreed to talk to her on those conditions that she should tell all she knows about the PDAF scam,” De Lima said.

De Lima met with Napoles for about 5 hours on April 21, almost 9 months after she surrendered on serious illegal detention charges arising from the alleged kidnapping of Benhur Luy, the whistleblower in the pork barrel scam. 

Napoles executed her affidavit a day after Senator Jinggoy Estrada, one of the top respondents in the pork barrel scam, returned on April 21 from a trip to the United States, vowing to face plunder raps against him.

On April 19, Jessica “Gigi” Reyes, the controversial former chief of staff of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, returned to the country after spending 8 months abroad following her implication in the pork barrel scam. She has also said that she is ready to face charges filed against her.

Probable cause 

On April 1, the Office of the Ombudsman announced the filing of charges against Napoles and Senators Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, and Ramon Revilla Jr. It said it found probable cause to indict them with plunder.

The Senate blue ribbon committee also recommended the filing of the same charges. (READ: Senate: Plunder for 3 pork senators)

The particular charges to be filed against Napoles include the following

• Plunder or malversation (depending on the amount)
• Corruption of public officials
• Fraud against the public treasury
• Violation of the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act
• False testimony

Luy revealed to the Senate blue ribbon committee how Napoles accessed lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for ghost projects for about a decade now. (READ: Luy: Senators’ aides fetched cash from JLN)

The multi-billion peso scam is the biggest corruption controversy in recent Philippine history. It involved lawmakers accused of siphoning off their pork barrel funds to Napoles’ fake non-governmental organizations in exchange for kickbacks. – Rappler.com