Aug 312013
 
President Benigno Aquino III’s openness to receiving high-profile fugitives will only be on a case-to-case basis, a Malacañang spokesperson said on Saturday.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte stressed this after Aquino explained why he agreed to receive suspected pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Napoles.

“Case-to-case basis yan,” Valte said on government-run dzRB radio, when asked if Aquino was open to receiving other high-profile fugitives if they send him surrender feelers.

Valte explained that Aquino had learned from an experience with retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr., who now remains in hiding after Aquino supposedly ignored his surrender feelers.

Aquino had told the Philippine Daily Inquirer he received Napoles at Malacañang on Wednesday night because of the Palparan episode.

“Kwento niya dati, may nagpapadala ng surrender feelers para gusto siya makausap, hindi pumayag. Sabi niya anong nangyari pagkatapos, hinahanap natin siya,” Valte said.

On Wednesday night, Napoles surrendered to Aquino at Malacañang, hours after Aquino announced a P10-million bounty for information leading to her arrest.

Napoles is accused of setting up bogus non-government organizations to siphon Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) or “pork barrel” funds from lawmakers.

The scandal triggered outrage that led people to call for the abolition of the pork barrel system.

Aquino also called for the abolition of PDAF but wants it replaced with a new mechanism. – VVP, GMA News

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