Napoles appeals Sandigan’s bail denial

MANILA, Philippines – Alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles has asked the Sandiganbayan to reconsider its rejection of her petition for bail.

All evidence on the alleged misuse of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s Priority Development Assistance Fund points to Benhur Luy and other whistle-blowers testifying for the prosecution as state witnesses, Napoles said in her motion filed before the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division.

Napoles said the Sandiganbayan erred in ruling that she owned the bogus non-government organizations (NGOs) used to implement ghost projects supposedly in exchange for commissions or kickbacks.

“Luy and the other whistle-blowers are the ones in cahoots with each other,” the motion read. “It bears to emphasize that accused Napoles was not a party to any memorandum of agreement entered into by the NGOs involved in this case. Neither was she an incorporator, member or officer of the same.”

Napoles said prosecution documents would show the direct involvement and participation of the whistle-blowers in the scam.

Last month, the Sandiganbayan denied Napoles’ and Estrada’s petitions for bail after months of hearings that allowed prosecutors to put Luy and other whistle-blowers on the stand along with other witnesses.

Estrada is detained on plunder charges at the Philippine National Police custodial center at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Napoles is serving time at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong after being convicted for illegally detaining Luy.