Lawyer: Napoles tried to bribe 'pork' scam whistleblowers

MANILA, Philippines - The legal counsel of Benhur Luy, the former employee of Janet Lim-Napoles who spilled the beans on the alleged pork barrel scam, said the businesswoman tried to bribe other whistleblowers before she surrendered last week.

Lawyer Levito Baligod said in an ANC interview on Monday morning that the four new pork barrel scam whistle-blowers received a phone call from Napoles when they went to the Department of Justice.

"Tinawagan sila (ni Napoles)... 'Huwag niyo akong idiin, tutulungan ko kayo. Ang idiin niyo si Benhur Luy'" Baligod quoted Napoles as saying.

Baligod said Napoles' agents allegedly met with the whistle-blowers and offered each of them a P20,000 bribe to clear the name of the alleged pork barrel scam mastermind.

"I did not ask if tinanggap nila (whistle-blowers). Pero parang tinanggap nila," Baligod said.

He agreed that the whistle-blowers' decision to take the bribe was to make it appear that they were on the side of Napoles.

Baligod said the National Bureau of Investigation tried to track Napoles' agents who gave the bribe.

The lawyer said it is a possibility that the new whistle-blowers who surfaced may switch sides, but so far, they seem credible.

"I see them as credible also. They have a real feeling na gusto rin nilang bumawi sa bayan," said Baligod.

Baligod also expects at least two more whistle-blowers in the pork barrel scam to come out soon.