Senate subpoenas 'Napoles list'
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will compel Justice Secretary Leila De Lima to surrender the list of Janet Lim-Napoles that supposedly identified other senators and officials involved in the pork barrel scam.
In a televised press conference on Monday, Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Teofisto Guingona said he has just signed the subpoena requiring De Lima to give Napoles' list and affidavits to the Senate panel within this week.
"I think it's time already, in the spirit of transparency, I think it's time that the list should be brought out," Guingona said.
Guingona said former Senator Panfilo Lacson will also be surrendering the separate list provided to him by Napoles' relatives.
Guingona said this would provide a point of comparison.
"Senator Lacson has committed to turn over documents in his possession to me within the week," Guingona said.
He added that Napoles' list will be made available to the public once the Senate gets it.
"I don't see any reason why should I put it in my drawer and hide it," Guingona said.
After obtaining the list and documents from De Lima, Guingona said the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will "most likely" have a hearing.
The next step, he added, is to determine whether or not the pork barrel scam probe should be reopened.
Guingona also announced that the Senate panel will start next week the hearings on the Malampaya fund scam.
In a meeting with De Lima last month, Napoles supposedly made a "tell-all" statement detailing her knowledge on the pork barrel scam. She also listed down the other senators and officials who also participated in the scheme.
Earlier, President Benigno Aquino III said he has seen two versions of Napoles' lists, but the contents do not match.
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