'No special treatment to Napoles'

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang on Thursday dismissed claims that special treatment was given to Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged pork barrel scam mastermind who voluntarily surrendered to President Benigno Aquino III last night.

Lacierda said through Philippine history, several fugitives and suspected criminals also surrendered to an incumbent president.

He said they only wanted to make sure Napoles is safe since there were alleged threats to her life.

"Kung sakaling hindi namin aktuhan po 'yung banta at may nangyari sa kanya; at sinabi sa aming may banta at hindi kami kumilos, anong sasabihin ng publiko?" Lacierda asked.

He said that according to Lorna Kapunan, Napoles' lawyer, the former fugitive only trusts the President that's why she surrendered to him.

"Ang sabi po ni Atty. Kapunan sa amin, at inulit po ito ni Atty. Kapunan sa harapan ni Presidente na given the situation, siya lang ang tanging taong mapagkakatiwalaan ng pamilya Napoles," said Lacierda.

Related story: Malacañang: Napoles only trusts PNoy

Lacierda said they are "doing the best to further bring us closer to the truth."

"Mas mabuti na we receive her in person, we make sure that she is safe," he said. "We're all after Ms. Napoles, everybody was so outraged."

"By bringing her to us, by surfacing and voluntarily surrendering her to the President, now the process of finding the truth can begin in earnest," Lacierda added.

Napoles surrendered to Aquino at 9:37 p.m. on Wednesday and was turned over to the custody of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas and Philippine National Police Director-General Alan Purisima for processing and booking.

She surrendered on the same day Aquino offered a P10-million reward in exchange for information that would lead to her arrest.

The Makati City Regional Trial Court ordered the arrest of Napoles and her brother, Jojo Lim, based on the serious illegal detention case filed by pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy.