Palace hands off on Napoles’ allegations vs Drilon

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has denied that the Duterte administration had something to do with the allegations of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles that she contributed to the 2010 campaign kitty of Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon of the Liberal Party.

“(The policy is) no interference with any department or any branch of government,” presidential legal adviser Salvador Panelo said yesterday.

Napoles’ accusation was based on an interview with Erwin Tulfo over state-run television station last Monday. Tulfo is a supporter of President Duterte.

Panelo has also challenged Napoles to substantiate her claim that she contributed to the campaign of Drilon during the 2010 elections.

“We cannot respond to tsismis (rumors) unless Napoles will make a sworn statement to make her credible. Otherwise, it will just be tsismis,” Panelo said.

“It doesn’t mean also that she will be credible if she makes a sworn statement. You have to be fair to everyone. From the sworn statement, there should be truth in what she is saying,” he added.

Panelo said if Napoles issues an affidavit, it can work both ways. “Drilon can also sue Napoles.”

Drilon has denied receiving funds from Napoles, who is detained at the National Capital Region Police Office in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig for plunder over her alleged role in the misuse of lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund.

Drilon said his Statements of Contributions and Expenditures filed at the Commission on Elections are open to public scrutiny.

“We deny having received any campaign contribution from Napoles,” Drilon said. “We will not further comment on such obviously fake news intended to harass the opposition.”

But Panelo joined presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. in calling the Office of the Ombudsman to act on Napoles’ statement motu propio.

“Under the law, even without a complaint, (the Ombudsman) can investigate on its own,” Panelo said.

Roque said he hopes that the Department of Justice and the Ombudsman will conduct their respective probes. 

“The Constitution, in providing for accountability of public officers, is the legal basis for the relevant government agency to conduct an investigation,” Roque said.

“I think the Department of Justice also should conduct its own probe, based on the statement,” he added.

Roque expressed belief that Napoles, being a central figure in the pork barrel scam, will have evidence to substantiate her claims.

“Obviously, Janet Lim-Napoles is the central figure in this scam, let her speak, and I’m sure in addition to what she has to say, she would have physical evidence to back up whatever it is that she alleges,” he said.– With Paolo Romero