Napoles children refuse to enter pleas on graft raps

MANILA, Philippines - Two children of businesswoman Janet Napoles, the alleged brains behind the P10 billion pork barrel scam, on Wednesday refused to enter any plea on the graft charges filed against them before the Sandiganbayan.

During their arraignment, the Third Division of the anti-graft court, chaired by Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, entered a not guilty plea for Jo Christine Napoles and her brother James Christoper for the 15 counts of graft.

The two Napoles children are co-accused in the graft cases filed by the Office of the Ombudsman against Senator Juan Ponce Enrile and their mother. Both Enrile and Janet are also facing plunder charges over the pork barrel fund scam.

Enrile pleaded not guilty to the charges while Janet also refused to enter any plea.

Four other co-accused in the graft cases --Department of Budget and Management Undersecretary Mario Relampagos and his staff Rosario Nunez, Lalaine Paule, and Marilou Bare --also refused to enter their respective pleas during arraingment.

Meanwhile, three other co-accused, Hernani Ditchon, Rodrigo Galay and Laarni Uy, pleaded not guilty on the charges against them.