Those hoping for a showdown between whistleblowers and Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind behind the P10-billion pork barrel scam, may have to wait longer. The Office of the Ombudsman has advised the Senate to exercise prudence and delay its plan to bring Napoles to a Blue Ribbon Committee hearing which is looking into the scam, saying their investigation may create undue “publicity.”
In a letter to Senate President Franklin Drilon, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said she recognized the chamber’s authority “to conduct inquiries in aid of legislation.” “There are also other PDAF-related cases involving other government officials in conspiracy with other private persons, which are pending investigation by the office,” she wrote. She also pointed out that having Napoles at the stand at this stage of the investigation may be “an exercise in futility” as it won’t produce “complete, reliable information.”
“It cannot be gainsaid that the publicity that may be spawned by the testimony of Ms. Napoles, would among other things, adversely affect public interest, prejudice the safety of witnesses or the disposition of cases against her and/or her co-respondents pending before this office, or unduly expose them to ridicule or public censure,” Morales continued. Reacting to the opinion, Drilon told reporters he would yield to Morales’ suggestion. MM
