At a press briefing, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said it will be “ridiculous” to let Napoles off the hook after signifying intention to come clean on the alleged pork barrel scam.
“Hindi naman pwedeng public policy na umamin ka lang, get out of jail ka na… Parang kung willing ka magsauli ng konti, willing ka mag-tell all, abswelto ka na, kahit na ‘yung ebidensya mo, andiyan na lahat,” Cayetano said.
He added that making Napoles a state witness and granting her immunity will “cheapen” the existing processes against corruption.
The Senate leader further said that Napoles should still face jail time, and should return the money she supposedly stole from the government.
“Kung ‘yung information naman talaga ay vital, pakita mo talaga na sorry ka. Pakulong ka pa rin at magsauli ng pera. Siguro ang puwede pag-usapan, under the parameters of the law, kung gaano ka katagal makukulong,” Cayetano said.
On Tuesday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima announced that Napoles offered herself as a state witness and vowed to “come clean” about the alleged anomaly. She, however, said that she did not give any commitment to Napoles about being a state witness.
De Lima also said that Napoles corroborated the whistleblowers’ testimonies on the alleged involvement of Senators Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile in the supposed anomaly.
Napoles and the three senators are currently facing plunder charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly pocketing public funds from the alleged pork barrel anomaly.
Return money
Senator Francis Escudero, meanwhile, agreed that Napoles should be forced to return to the government the pork barrel funds she allegedly pocketed.
“Ang sa akin nga, dapat may kapalit kung talagang sinsero at tunay at tapat ang kanyang alok. Dapat kasama sa usapan ang pagbabalik ng anumang ninakaw, nakulimbat o pinakinabangan. Kung ilang bilyon man yun, dapat ibalik sa kaban ng bayan,” Escudero said in a phone interview.
He added that Napoles’ tell-all should be taken with a grain of salt.
“Huwag tayong masyadong umoo agad dahil gaya nga ng sabi ko, minsan na niyang pinagsinungalingan ang Senado at sambayanan. Dapat siguro ay mabawi muna niya ang tiwalang yun bago tayo biglang mag-panic o maniwala agad sa bawat salitang sasabihin niya,” Escudero said.
Last November, Napoles appeared before the Senate blue ribbon committee but clammed up by repeatedly invoking her right against self-incrimination.
During her Senate appearance, Napoles denied ordering Benhur Luy and other whistleblowers to form foundations to be used for the alleged anomaly. She also denied receiving kickbacks from the supposed scam. — KBK, GMA News
