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| Alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles. File photo |
MANILA, Philippines — The Duterte administration is open to considering alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles as state witness in its fight against corruption.
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo told reporters on Wednesday the wealthy businesswoman could be on the side of the government if proven she was not the most guilty of plunder.
The idea came after Office of the Solicitor General recommended to Court of Appeals to acquit Napoles from illegal detention case filed by her cousin and pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy.
Napoles is facing life imprisonment from the decision of Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 in April 2015.
Aside from Napoles, other government officials were also accused in the case, including former Sens. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile.
Revilla and Estrada are currently detained in the Philippine National Police's custodial center, while Enrile was able to post bail after the court considered his age and health.
The government officials allegedly allocated their Priority Development Assistance Fund, commonly known as pork barrel, to bogus non-government organizations of Napoles.
Panelo, meanwhile, defended the comment of Solicitor General Jose Calida in favor of Napoles and insisted that President Rodrigo Duterte did not influence the move. — Based a Pilipino Star Ngayon report; with AJ Bolando
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo told reporters on Wednesday the wealthy businesswoman could be on the side of the government if proven she was not the most guilty of plunder.
The idea came after Office of the Solicitor General recommended to Court of Appeals to acquit Napoles from illegal detention case filed by her cousin and pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy.
Napoles is facing life imprisonment from the decision of Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 in April 2015.
Aside from Napoles, other government officials were also accused in the case, including former Sens. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile.
Revilla and Estrada are currently detained in the Philippine National Police's custodial center, while Enrile was able to post bail after the court considered his age and health.
The government officials allegedly allocated their Priority Development Assistance Fund, commonly known as pork barrel, to bogus non-government organizations of Napoles.
Panelo, meanwhile, defended the comment of Solicitor General Jose Calida in favor of Napoles and insisted that President Rodrigo Duterte did not influence the move. — Based a Pilipino Star Ngayon report; with AJ Bolando
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