Former Senator Francisco S. Tatad’s explosive column in today’s Manila Standard Today alleges that Janet Lim Napoles had a day-long private meeting with President Benigno S. Aquino III, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas and other Cabinet members prior to the evening of her surrender at Malacañan Palace.
“According to these sources, Napoles arrived at 10:30 am, all by herself, without her lawyer, but accompanied by Lacierda alone, who happens to be a lawyer. She was immediately conducted to what is known as the ‘Music Room’ or ‘Ready Room’ where she remained closeted with Aquino, Roxas and the Malacanang spokesman for the next six hours.
“At lunch time, food was brought in by a secretary rather than the regular Malacañang waiters, and Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras joined the meeting. He was followed by Budget Secretary Florencio Abad at around 1 pm, and Ochoa a few minutes later.
“Between 2 pm and 3:30 pm, Aquino stepped out three times to meet some official callers, then finally left for an unknown destination. At 4:30 pm, the meeting ended, and Lacierda left with Napoles, destination unknown.”
