Janet Lim-Napoles. INQUIRER FILE
President Rodrigo Duterte鈥檚 administration should pursue the criminal prosecution of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles 鈥渋nstead of using the people鈥檚 money to give her refuge and protection,鈥� the Liberal Party (LP) said on Tuesday.
鈥淭he wheels of justice have started on the case of Napoles. The government must pursue her criminal prosecution, instead of using the people鈥檚 money to give her refuge and protection through the Witness Protection Program (WPP). To do so would be a great mockery of justice,鈥� LP said in a statement.
The statement of the opposition political party came after Napoles鈥� lead counsel Stephen David told reporters that he filed the motion for his client鈥檚 transfer of custody after consulting Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.
搁贰础顿:听Napoles says Palace gave her legal advice
鈥淎ng meeting namin about, na-admit na kasi siya sa WPP kasi nga ang gusto sana namin eh ilipat na sya pero sabi nga nila, sabi ni ES, nag-meeting kami concerning dun after na-admit sya sa WPP. Ang sabi nya, ang sabi nila, mag-file nung motion. Pinag-usapan namin whether or not magpa-file ba nung motion, yan lang,鈥� David said.
LP questioned the motive of the top officials reaching out to Napoles.
鈥淲hat prompted these top officials to reach out to an alleged mastermind of a multi-billion-peso scam? Who sanctioned this? Malacanang鈥檚 statement that the President is taking a hands-off stance on this appears not to jibe with the actions of his top executives,鈥� it said.
鈥淏akit pag mahirap na suspek, patay agad, pero pag mayamang may kapit, pro-proteksyunan pa ng estado? Tama ba yan?鈥� it asked.
But Medialdea denied the statement of Napoles鈥� lawyer, saying: 鈥淲hy would I give a legal advice to a lawyer for his client? If I were his client, I will fire him.鈥�
搁贰础顿:听Medialdea rebuts Napoles lawyer: 鈥榃hy would I give legal advice for his client?鈥�
Napoles was temporarily granted protection starting Feb. 27, 2018 after she executed an affidavit which is now undergoing assessment by the Department of Justice (DOJ).聽/cbb
搁贰础顿:听Napoles, pork scam 鈥榖rains,鈥� gets gov鈥檛 protection