Roxas: Napoles an important witness

MANILA, Philippines - The government has not dismissed the possibility of using businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles as a state witness in the P10-billion pork barrel scandal, Interior and Government Secretary Mar Roxas said following her surrender on Wednesday night.

"Dinesesyunan ng Pangulo na mahalaga na maibalik sa ambit of the law si Ms. Janet Napoles bilang mahalagang witness para malaman ang buong katotohanan dito sa alegasyon ng korapsyon," Roxas told reporters at a press briefing.

Napoles, who surrendered to President Benigno Aquino III late Wednesday, exchanged a few words with him before she was placed under the custody of the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police.

Roxas said that Aquino is open to making her help authorities in the ongoing investigations on the pork barrel scandal.

"Isang avenue ito na bukas sa pamahalaan, kung may kontribusyon sa impormasyon at ebidensya si Napoles," Rocas said in a separate radio interview Thursday, referring to the possibility of using Napoles as a state witness.

The official, meanwhile, clarified that there were no deals made with Napoles in exchange for her surrender.

"Ang napag-usapan lang kanina ay 'yung kaalaman niya na may banta sa kanyang buhay at ang kanyang appeal (to Aquino to grant her security)," Roxas said, adding that Napoles was not given "special treatment" during her arrest.

Napoles' lawyer Lorna Kapunan appeared on television on Wednesday begging the President to assure the security of her client, whom she said was willing to surrender.

"Ang punto dito ay ginagawa natin ang lahat para malaman ang katotohanan," Roxas said.

"Hindi ko sinasabi na tanggap natin ang lahat ng sasabihin niya, ang mahalaga buhay siya at may pagkakataon na pakinggan ang panig niya," he added.

Kapunan was a law firm colleague of Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, who was brought to an undisclosed location where Napoles "voluntarily surrendered."

Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima earlier said that if Napoles surrenders, the government may allow her the role of state witness.

As state witness, Napoles may be granted immunity and avail of the benefits of the DOJ's witness protection program including security details, travel and living expenses as well as medical assistance.