(Eagle News) — Senator Grace Poe on Tuesday slammed what she said was the “special treatment” being given to Janet Lim Napoles.
Poe made the statement after Napoles was provisionally admitted to the Department of Justice’s Witness Protection Program following her execution of an affidavit supposedly providing additional details about the P10-billion pork barrel scam.
“There are requisites for one to be admitted as a state witness, most notable requirements are that the accused does not appear to be the most guilty and that there is no other direct evidence available for the prosecution. How can Janet Lim Napoles NOT appear as most guilty when she has been identified as the ‘pork barrel queen’?” Poe said.
According to Poe, “the pieces of evidence against (Napoles) even led to the indictment and detention of several high-profile public officials.”
She was apparently referring to then-Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile and Bong Revilla, who were charged in connection with the scam.
Estrada and Enrile are out on bail, while Revilla remains detained in Camp Crame.
Poe also admonished prosecutors, who she said could have been remiss “again” in their gathering of evidence against those liable for the scam.
“Mahirap masanay sa pagdepende na lamang sa testimonya ng mismong kriminal upang pagtakpan ang kawalang abilidad ng gobyernong lumikom ng ebidensya at magpalakas ng kaso laban sa kriminal,” she said.
“The government’s Witness Protection Program is there to protect and secure the qualified witnesses, so we can conclude the case. Bakit kailangang bigyan ng special treatment ang isang tao?” she added.
The DOJ has said it was still assessing Napoles’ affidavit so it could be determined if she could be granted full WPP coverage.
In May last year, President Rodrigo Duterte said he wanted to hold accountable all those involved in the scam, regardless of political affiliations.
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