CELEBRATING THE SENATE’S 97th ANNIVERSARY. Senate President Franklin M. Drilon addresses Senate officials and employees during the Senate’s flag raising ceremony Monday, October 21. Drilon took the opportunity to thank everyone for what he calls a “selfless act” in deciding to forego plans to celebrate the annual Christmas Party in favor of donating the funds to the victims of recent calamities that struck Visayas and Mindanao. The Senate, which is also celebrating its 97th Anniversary, has also decided to allocate the budget for the anniversary to the victims of the recent 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Bohol and Cebu. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Now that the Senate has finally subpoenaed Janet Lim Napoles, some senators see explosive showdown between the alleged pork barrel scam queen and whistleblowers led by Benhur Luy in the next Senate inquiry set on November 7.
”It could be explosive but we don’t know if it is the equivalent of a political nuclear bomb or minor firework,” Senator Sonny Angara said.
On Monday, Senate President Franklin Drilon signed the subpoena ordering Napoles as well as the whistleblowers to appear and testify before the Senate blue ribbon committee on Nov. 7.
”Only Janet Lim Napoles and her lawyer would know beforehand what she will say or not say,” Angara said.
For his part, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV believed that Napoles would not tell to the Senate panel everything about the fake non-government organizations (NGOs) she used to siphon billions of priority development assistance fund (PDAF) of the lawmakers.
”I don’t expect her to speak at all. But, in case she does, I don’t expect her to tell the truth,” Trillanes said.
Trillanes said the presence of Napoles in the Senate probe has no bearing to the case already filed with the Office of the Ombudsman by the Department of Justice and National Bureau of Investigation in connection with the pork scam.
Despite an advice from Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales not to summon Napoles, the senators unanimously agreed in a caucus to subpoena the alleged controversial businesswoman in the next Senate inquiry.
Aside from Benhur Luy, other whistleblowers required to attend the November 7 hearing include: Gertrudes Luy, Merlina Suñas, Marina Sula, Mary Arlene Baltazar, and Simonette Briones.
Senate blue ribbon chairman Sen. Teofisto Guingona III said it would be “very convenient” to require Napoles and the whistleblowers to attend in one hearing to have “a system of cross and checks and balances.” (MNS)