“In an interview on ANC’s Headstart on Friday, May 16, Senator Francis Escudero admitted that he once met alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles when he was still a member of the House of Representatives,” reports ABS-CBNnews.com.
Escudero was quoted as saying, “A long time ago in Congress, I don’t remember when and how, it was Jenny Lim and not Janet Napoles. It was only my staff who reminded me that I met her already. Probably in an official function but I don’t remember.”
From 1998 to 2007, Escudero had served as the 1st District of Sorsogon’s congressman.
Escudero, however, said that “never allocated his priority development assistance funds to Napoles NGOs.”
The report noted: “Escudero said he could not have allocated his PDAF to Napoles NGOs since he did not receive any PDAF from 2007 to 2009 after criticizing then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He said he later allocated his PDAF to hospitals and repair of public markets.”
Screengrab from an ABS-CBN News video
