MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III does not recall meeting businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles before the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam was revealed to the public.
At a press briefing after the 7th ASEAN Navy Chiefs' Meeting in Makati City, Aquino said Napoles didn't look familiar when the suspected pork barrel scam mastermind surrendered in Malacañang last month.
"I was trying to look at her and I don't remember her," Aquino said at the press briefing on Tuesday, a record of which was uploaded to the website of the Presidential Communications Operations Office.
"I'm normally very good with faces... she doesn't look familiar or whatsoever," the President said. "I can’t even say I ever said 'hi' to her."
Napoles, who was wanted for the serious illegal detention charges filed by pork barrel scam whistle-blower Benhur Luy, voluntarily surrendered to Aquino on August 28 due to alleged threats to her life.
On the morning of the same day, Aquino announced a P10-million reward for anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of Napoles.
The businesswoman is currently detained in Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna.
Aquino and several government officials have been accused of giving "special treatment" to Napoles.
They have denied the allegations, saying they only want to ensure her safety since her possible knowledge on the alleged pork barrel scam is important to the case.
Aquino made his statement after a close ally, Senate President Franklin Drilon, was seen in a photo with Napoles before the news on the pork barrel scam broke out.
On Tuesday, Drilon explained that none of his pork barrel allocations was given to any project of the alleged NGOs of Napoles.
"There is a clear effort to implicate me as guilty by association with the picture shown last night on television," Drilon said.
He said there can be other pictures showing him and Napoles together because he had seen the businesswoman in other events.
"Puwedeng mayroon pang lalabas ng ibang pictures kasi nakikita ko rin siya sa ibang social gatherings," the Senate President said. "But you know, kami naman mga politiko ay marami nag papapicture sa amin... And I did not know the business of Ms. Napoles when all of these were happening."