Solicitor General Jose Calida. JOAN BONDOC/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA 鈥� Solicitor General Jose Calida鈥檚 manifestation in Janet Lim Napoles鈥� favor was a factor in Napoles鈥� acquittal in her serious illegal detention case at the Court of Appeals, the court itself said so in its ruling.
As the appellate court noted in its May 5 decision, 鈥渢he points raised therein were also passed upon in Our decision-making process.鈥�
But Napoles, the alleged pork barrel scam mastermind, may not taste freedom anytime soon, thanks to her non-bailable plunder cases related to the multi-billion-peso pork barrel scam pending, which are pending at the Sandiganbayan.
The Court of Appeals on Friday acquitted Napoles in the case of the illegal detention of scam whistleblower Benhur Luy. It found a lack of evidence to show she masterminded Luy鈥檚 detention at a Makati City retreat house from December 2012 to March 2013.
The appeals court鈥檚 May 5 decision ordered the 鈥渋mmediate release鈥� of Napoles 鈥渦nless she is confined for any other lawful cause.鈥�
However, Napoles鈥檚 petition for bail was denied in the separate plunder cases of former senator Ramon 鈥淏ong鈥� Revilla Jr., Jose 鈥淛inggoy鈥� Estrada,鈥� and Juan Ponce Enrile. This meant she would remain in detention for the time being.
Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, in a text message to reporters, said the commitment orders issued in those cases 鈥渃onstitute the legal bases for her continued detention.鈥�
鈥淭he commitment orders of the SB against her stand because they were issued in connection with the cases pending before the SB,鈥� Tang said.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales had yet to issue a statement, as of聽Monday afternoon, but during her most recent media briefing on April 25, she said the result of the illegal detention case should have no bearing on the credibility of Luy and the other scam whistleblowers.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it has any bearing on the [Priority Development Assistance Fund] cases. The credibility of Napoles in that detention case does not affect her credibility or the credibility of the witnesses for that matter,鈥� Morales said then.
A few party-list representatives expressed their disapproval of Napoles鈥檚 acquittal in the serious illegal detention case.
鈥淭he standard of justice under the Duterte administration has gone to the dogs. We are witnessing how big-time plunderers are being acquitted by the courts,鈥� Akbayan Rep. Tomasito Villarin exclaimed in a statement. 鈥淣apoles should not hurry and celebrate. The fight against corruption is not yet over!鈥�
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate said he was 鈥済ravely dismayed鈥� by the development. He said the people should be 鈥渧ery wary鈥� because as things stand now many of those who have been charged of plundering the people鈥檚 coffers are getting off the hook.鈥�
鈥淭he people should keep watch and protest these developments,鈥� Zarate said.
On the other hand, Kabayan Rep. Harry Roque said the government 鈥渨ill use Janet Napoles in its on-going war on drugs鈥濃�攕pecifically against detained Senator Leila de Lima, who pursued the pork barrel scam charges as Justice secretary under the Aquino administration.
鈥淚 also hope the information that Napoles has against Senator de Lima will lead to the conviction of the latter for drug trafficking as otherwise, the acquittal of Napoles may be for naught,鈥� Roque said in a text message.
Yet, he expressed hope that the government would still hold her liable for plunder 鈥渋f only to serve as an example to others, members of Congress specially, that plunder does not pay.鈥� 听厂贵惭