Napoles clears Justice Ong

MANILA, Philippines - Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged brains behind the pork barrel fund scam, on Friday defended Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Gregory S. Ong from accusations that they dealt with each other while the businesswoman was facing trial for a graft charge.

In a chance interview after her bail hearing at the Sandiganbayan, Napoles admitted speaking with the magistrate but she denied that it was while she wsa undergoing trial for the Kevlar helmet case.

“The case was dismissed in 2010,” Napoles told reporters in a quick statement after attending proceedings at the Sandiganbayan Third Division.

“It was in 2012 that he asked for help with Monsignor for the Nazareno’s clothing,” Napoles said referring to the Monsignor Josefino Ramirez of the Quiapo Church.

The alleged operator of the pork barrel fund scam, who is facing three plunder cases and a string of graft charges, said she only met with Ong when the magistrate was referred to her.

The magistrate allegedly asked for Napoles’ assistance in reaching out to Ramirez because he had a prostate problem that he wanted to pray for through the Black Nazarene.

Napoles' legal counsel, Stephen David, said that Ramirez was then the parish priest of Quiapo Church and at the same time the chaplain or personal confessor advisor who was very close to her client.

“So merong isang driver o kaibigan si Monsignor Ramirez na pinakiusapan sila na kung pwede kasi nga itulay siya, itulay ni Justice Ong yung Poong Nazareno kay Janet,” he explained.

David said the magistrate, who heads the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division, was desperate then because of his prostate illness but the connection “has nothing to do with the [Kelvar helmet] case” considering that it was dismissed in 2010.

As for the alleged checks that were received by Justice Ong from Napoles, he said he doesn’t know anything about it. He also doubted that Ong would accept bribe money.

“I don’t know how that could happen because as far as I know, Justice Ong never accepts such things,” David said, describing Justice Ong as a very strict and even a grouchy magistrate.

“Kung tatanungin mo kung tumatanggap ng pera si Justice Ong, malabo yun. I can honestly say malabung-malabo ‘yun,” the lawyer said.