Napoles not 'pork' scam's architect - lawyer

MANILA, Philippines — Janet Lim Napoles did not start the multi-billion peso embezzlement of lawmakers' Priority Development Assistance Funds, her lawyer claimed on Wednesday.

Bruce Rivera, the lawyer of the detained businesswoman, said in an interview over radio dzMM that the "pork barrel" operation was already running when Napoles joined the scam.

Rivera said it would be hard for the Department of Justice to prove that Napoles is the "architect" of the pork barrel anomaly.

"Kami po ay gusto lang namin magsabi ng totoo," Rivera said.

He reiterated that his client wanted to speak with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to tell the "truth" once and for all, and not because she wants to become a state witness in the plunder cases.

"Kung tatanggapin siyang state witness, bakit hindi? Pero 'pag hindi naman, okay lang. 'Yun po ang sinasabi niya sa akin," Rivera said.

On Tuesday, De Lima met with Napoles in her room at the Ospital ng Makati. She was scheduled for a surgery for ovarian tumors.

De Lima confirmed that Napoles mentioned Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada and Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. as among those involved in the scam.

Rivera said, however, Napoles tagged more names of incumbent and former lawmakers in her sworn affidavit, which is now being validated by the DOJ. The lawyer, however, declined to divulge them.

He also said that with Napoles now talking, the public will be learning more about the scam that has not yet been revealed before.

The lawyer of principal whistleblower Benhur Luy, meanwhile, fears that the businesswoman's testimony will become a threat to Luy and the other whistleblowers, who were previously employed in Napoles' JLN Corporation.

"May danger na baka guluhin niya yung kaso by contradicting what has already been testified on," lawyer Raji Mendoza said in a televised press conference on Wednesday.

Mendoza said that Luy is uncomfortable about the possibility that Napoles will be granted immunity as a state witness.

"Napakalaki ng involvement niya dito. Siya yung may negosyo, nagbibigay ng komisyon," he said. - Camille Diola