Drilon finally signs subpoena for Napoles

MANILA, Philippines - After being criticized for refusing to sign the subpoena for alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles, Senate President Franklin Drilon has decided to compel her attendance at the next Blue Ribbon committee on the controversy.

At the start of yesterday’s plenary session, Drilon announced that he had decided to sign the subpoena as a demonstration of his commitment to support the Senate’s quest for the truth on the pork barrel scam.

The senators were supposed to hold a caucus yesterday to decide on the issuance of the subpoena to Napoles, but this was preempted by the decision of Drilon to sign the summons.

Drilon said he met with Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and the chairman of the Blue Ribbon committee, Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, yesterday morning to inform them about his decision.

“I wish to inform my colleagues that I have decided to sign the subpoena requiring Napoles to appear before the Senate and the Blue Ribbon committee,” Drilon said.

“With this decision, let me emphasize that the Senate remains committed to the orderly administration of justice. We have a functioning justice system that will clear the innocent and punish the guilty. Our priority is to prosecute those involved and ensure that those who misused public funds will be held accountable for their actions,” he added.

Guingona said the subpoena is addressed to Napoles, but she must ask the court for permission to attend the Senate hearing.

“It is the court that has jurisdiction over Janet Napoles,” Guingona said.

Napoles is currently detained at Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna on charges of serious illegal detention filed by her former employee and cousin Benhur Luy.

She has also been included in the list of individuals facing plunder charges filed by the National Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice with the Office of the Ombudsman.

Drilon admitted that he was affected by the criticisms that were hurled against him for deciding against signing the subpoena for Napoles after Guingona asked for it last month.

Instead of signing the subpoena, Drilon opted to seek the opinion of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales about the moves to compel Napoles’ attendance at the Blue Ribbon committee hearing.

In her response to Drilon, Morales said that she does not think Napoles should attend the hearings at this time.

“It is unfortunate that my decision to adhere to the advice of Ombudsman Morales, to which I concurred at that time, was the more prudent and responsible action to take to ensure an orderly administration of justice, has been misconstrued as an effort to hide the truth,” Drilon said.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada, who was among the senators implicated in the pork barrel scam, said that the move of Drilon to seek the advice of the ombudsman was a matter of concern because the Senate might be seen as surrendering its independence to the other institutions of government.

Drilon said it was a policy question that he as Senate President had to address. He explainedthat he sought the ombudsmen’s advice out of prudence and caution.

He clarified that there was never a decision against summoning Napoles and that the Senate is not bound by the opinion of the ombudsman.

Much of the criticism against Drilon was over allegations that he and Napoles were more than mere acquaintances, as indicated in several photographs showing him and his wife together with Napoles in some social functions.

Drilon said he saw Napoles during some social functions but did not have any dealings with her whatsoever.

“My decision to defer the signing of the Napoles subpoena even created an opportunity for certain members of the opposition, particularly those who seek to block our anti-corruption reforms, to conduct a media vilification campaign against me and the Aquino administration,” Drilon said.

“The public criticism that came our way has undoubtedly injured the image of the Senate before a public hungry to see Napoles being grilled in the Senate halls,” he added.

Drilon said he has always supported the pursuit of justice and adherence to the rule of law.

“As a former justice secretary, I have always believed in the paramount pursuit of justice. I am therefore appalled that there are talks of cover-up. I have never been a part of any cover-up and I will never be,” he said.

Drilon said he is committed, as the leader of the Senate, to restore the confidence of the people in the institution, which has been damaged by allegations of misuse of public funds starting from late last year.

Before the pork barrel scandal erupted, the Senate was rocked by allegations that its savings were divided among the senators as Christmas gifts, with some getting more than others.

Drilon said that the Senate probe into the pork barrel scam would be relentless because he considers it as a great injustice to the Filipino people.