Tearful Napoles was surrounded by Jesus' and Virgin Mary's images during meeting
MANILA, Philippines — The written testimony submitted by alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles has "a lot of details" and signifies her intention to spill more beans and become a state witness, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Tuesday.
In a press conference, De Lima confirmed meeting with suspected "pork barrel" scam mastermind at the Ospital ng Makati before Napoles underwent a surgery for a myoma on her uterus on Monday night.
Update: De Lima to Janet's tormentors: No need to silence her
"There are more details, more information from Mrs. Napoles. ... But not everything. Mrs. Napoles appears to know these things. But I cannot share with you the details," De Lima said.
She also admitted that Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada are tagged in Napoles' statement.
Asked if Napoles backed the Department of Justice's (DOJ) plunder charge against the three main respondents in the multi-billion peso embezzlement scheme, De Lima answered, "Yes, absolutely."
De Lima similarly confirmed that some of the names Napoles disclosed are already respondents in the case submitted before the Office of the Ombudsman, which has elevated the proceedings to the Sandiganbayan.
The justice secretary said that Napoles also disclosed some "documentary evidence" during their five-hour meeting.
De Lima arrived at the hospital around 11 p.m. Monday and left at around 3 a.m. Tuesday.
The justice secretary refused to confirm whether Napoles tagged other senators in the pork barrel fund scam.
Read: Now a state witness? Napoles submits testimony to DOJ
De Lima said that she was confident that Napoles' testimony provides valuable information, but clarified that the alleged scam mastermind still has to undergo further questioning by the National Bureau of Investigation.
"There will be further sessions with her ... We need to get those additional facts and details. Ayaw namin sayangin ang pagkakataong ito," she said.
The official also recounted her conditions for agreeing to meet with Napoles, whom she said has been sending the DOJ "feelers" during the past week.
"To tell all on pork scam. Ayoko na may iba pa siyang kakusapin [and] no commitment to make her state witness," De Lima said.
De Lima said she entered the hospital room where Napoles was "tearful" and was praying the Rosary. She was also surrounded by images of the Virgin Mary and Jesus.
"Sabi niya she is now coming clean. She was tearful when she saw me," De Lima recounted.
She believes that detained businesswoman decided to divulge what she knows as she was anxious of her impending operation for myoma.