De Lima given more time to submit Napoles affidavit
Signed Napoles list
Lacson's Napoles list
MANILA - Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Teofisto 'TG' Guingona III made public on Thursday the signed Janet Napoles list of alleged pork barrel scam players after it was submitted by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.
De Lima had asked for one more week, or until May 22, within which to submit both the list and Napoles' affidavits.
Guingona allowed the extension for the affidavits, but not the list.
“I did not allow the extension [for the list]. It’s time we put an end to the speculation," he said. He noted there are so many lists going around that have spawned a lot of speculations.
The Napoles list is the same as that submitted by Senator Panfilo Lacson.
However, there are other names, handwritten by Napoles, that have been added to the list.
In her letter to Guingona, De Lima said the Napoles camp has yet to finish an extensive affidavit that would support the list that merely contains the names of those allegedly involved in the corruption scheme.
“[I] respectfully recommend that the committee, instead of disclosing the list and the still unverified allegations to the public, could perhaps consider either awaiting the completion of the vetting process or fact-finding investigation by the DOJ/NBI… or refer the documents to the Ombudsman or the Inter-Agency Anti-Graft Coordinating Council,” De Lima pleaded.
Guingona told ANC that while the affidavits are paramount in giving credence to the list, “I believe the signed list should already come out, because it will come out anyway. There’s no reason to delay anymore."
He also noted the list should be corroborated and cross-referenced with the testimonies of the pork barrel scam whistleblowers.
“Cross-referencing and corroborating are important aspects of finding the truth, but what’s also important is we have a transparent process."
As a necessary consequence, Napoles will have to be called back to the Senate and thresh out her story.
“The next rational step is to ask the author to come forward," he said.
Napoles is still at the Ospital ng Makati even though authorities have already given her the green light to leave. She has yet to pay her bills.
Meanwhile, Guingona said he can’t say if the other lists can now be discarded in favor of the signed one.
“Let me hold judgment on that. Based on face value, this [signed list] should be given weight.”
De Lima had asked for one more week, or until May 22, within which to submit both the list and Napoles' affidavits.
Guingona allowed the extension for the affidavits, but not the list.
“I did not allow the extension [for the list]. It’s time we put an end to the speculation," he said. He noted there are so many lists going around that have spawned a lot of speculations.
The Napoles list is the same as that submitted by Senator Panfilo Lacson.
However, there are other names, handwritten by Napoles, that have been added to the list.
In her letter to Guingona, De Lima said the Napoles camp has yet to finish an extensive affidavit that would support the list that merely contains the names of those allegedly involved in the corruption scheme.
“[I] respectfully recommend that the committee, instead of disclosing the list and the still unverified allegations to the public, could perhaps consider either awaiting the completion of the vetting process or fact-finding investigation by the DOJ/NBI… or refer the documents to the Ombudsman or the Inter-Agency Anti-Graft Coordinating Council,” De Lima pleaded.
Guingona told ANC that while the affidavits are paramount in giving credence to the list, “I believe the signed list should already come out, because it will come out anyway. There’s no reason to delay anymore."
He also noted the list should be corroborated and cross-referenced with the testimonies of the pork barrel scam whistleblowers.
“Cross-referencing and corroborating are important aspects of finding the truth, but what’s also important is we have a transparent process."
As a necessary consequence, Napoles will have to be called back to the Senate and thresh out her story.
“The next rational step is to ask the author to come forward," he said.
Napoles is still at the Ospital ng Makati even though authorities have already given her the green light to leave. She has yet to pay her bills.
Meanwhile, Guingona said he can’t say if the other lists can now be discarded in favor of the signed one.
“Let me hold judgment on that. Based on face value, this [signed list] should be given weight.”
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
