Palace: Wait until Napoles list is made public

MANILA, Philippines – Even after legislators had reacted to the reported affidavit of pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Napoles implicating more lawmakers, Malacañang remains mum.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview on Saturday, April 26, that “nobody else has the affidavit” except Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

“Until such time that the affidavit is made public then it’s, at best, speculation on the part of whoever wants to make (this) allegation,” she said.

Napoles executed the affidavit after she finally agreed to “tell all” about the controversy and turn state witness. (READ: Napoles wants to be state witness – De Lima)

Napoles reportedly implicated in the million-peso scam 12 more senators and over 100 congressmen, soliciting various reactions from senators.

“It’s hard to comment because to comment on that would agree with the premise that more than 10 senators are implicated in the said affidavit. It’s a little hard to comment on that at this point, given that we really don’t know what is in that affidavit apart from those that are already revealed by Secretary De Lima,” Valte said.

Apart from the legislators, the affidavit also reportedly identified Budget Secretary Florencio Abad as being the one who taught Napoles the ropes. Abad, one of the stalwarts and political strategists of the Liberal Party, already dismissed the claim.

Motive?

Valte said she’s unsure whether Abad and President Benigno Aquino III had already discussed the issue.

“You know we have no insight on the motivation of whoever is trying to link, particularly, Secretary Abad, to supposedly being the mentor of Janet Napoles,” Valte said.

Malacañang was also unfazed by the alleged involvement of Rehabilitation Secretary Panfilo Lacson, who revealed that the Napoles camp first approached him in March to offer to “tell all” about the scam. (READ: Lacson: ‘Noisy’ critics also got Napoles kickbacks)

“When it comes to Secretary Lacson, he said that he actually eats Yolanda for breakfast, for lunch and for dinner. It’s all Yolanda (concerns) that he is attending to and perhaps, there has been an extra (concern) because of this issue. At this point, we really don’t see it as an interference in what Secretary Lacson is doing as rehab czar,” Valte said. – Rappler.com