MANILA: The Senate will soon summon businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles after Senate President Franklin Drilon said he has decided to sign the subpoena for the alleged pork barrel scam mastermind.
In a privilege speech yesterday, Drilon said he has decided to sign the subpoena requiring Napoles to attend and testify in the investigation of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
The subpoena was requested by Senator Teofisto Guingona III, the committee chair who heads the probe on the controversy involving lawmakers’ pork barrel funds that were allegedly pocketed by the businesswoman.
“With this decision, let me emphasise that the Senate remains committed to the orderly administration of justice,” Drilon said in a privilege speech.
“As your Senate President, I have always said that this Senate investigation will be relentless in searching for the truth. I consider the Pork Barrel Scam as a great injustice to the Filipino people,” he added.
Guingona said on Twitter that he is thankful with Drilon’s decision.
Napoles has been accused of setting up bogus non-government organisations that siphoned taxpayers’ money in the form of the pork barrel funds.
She is currently detained at Fort Sto Domingo in Laguna in connection with the serious illegal detention charges filed against her by relative and former employee, Benhur Luy.
Luy is also the key whistle-blower in the alleged pork barrel scam.
Drilon had initially denied to sign the subpoena for Napoles after seeking the opinion of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales on the matter.
Morales said it is not advisable at the moment to summon Napoles since she is already facing plunder charges before the anti-graft body in connection with the alleged scam.
Drilon’s previous decision not to sign the subpoena had met criticisms. He said it has been “misconstrued as an effort to hide the truth.”
The Philippine Star
