Janet Lim-Napoles. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines鈥擩anet Lim-Napoles is not inclined to appear and testify at the Senate, her lawyer said on Thursday.
鈥淪ya mismo ang nagsabi, ayaw nyang pumunta sa Senado, ayaw nyang magsalita sa Senado.聽 Ngayon pa lang naririnig na natin ang intramurals dyan ano? (She said it herself, she doesn鈥檛 want to appear at the Senate, she doesn鈥檛 want to speak at the Senate. As early as now, we hear this kind of intramurals, right?)鈥� Napoles鈥� lawyer, Lorna Kapunan, said in a radio interview.
鈥淎nd I don鈥檛 think this is the right time and the right place (for her to give her testimony),鈥� Kapunan said.
Napoles, who has been in jail for serious illegal detention of her cousin and whistle-blower Benhur Luy,聽 was聽 subpoenaed by the Senate to appear and testify in the chamber on November 7 in connection with the P10 billion 鈥減ork-barrel鈥� scam.
Asked if Napoles was willing to answer allegations that she had deals with some senators, the lawyer said, 鈥淚n the Ombudsman, the answer is yes. In the Sandiganbayan, the answer is yes.鈥�
A plunder complaint was also lodged against Napoles at the Office of the Ombudsman, which will file a case at the Sandiganbayan once it finds probable聽 cause to indict her.
But when asked again why Napoles would not testify in the Senate if she has nothing to hide,聽聽 Kapunan said, 鈥淏ecause the Senate is not a court of law. The Senate is [conducting investigation] in aid of legislation鈥︹��
As to whether Napoles has something explosive to tell when she testifies at the proper forum, Kapunan said,聽 鈥淚 think this will point to the people, confirm the belief of our people聽 that the PDAF has been abused, and abused by public officials down to the level of mayor鈥︹��
PDAF stands for Priority Development Assistance Fund also known as 鈥減ork barrel鈥� funds.
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