ODAMA’S FILES ? THE SURRENDER of Janet Lim-Napoles, alleged “Queen of the PDAF scam” has raised more doubts than clarifications on the pork barrel controversy. Who will take the rap is today’s hottest issue among kapihan and barbershop politics. Who should take the blame, the Senators and Congressmen who delivered their pork to Napoles on a silver platter or Janet Napoles herself who allegedly egged Congress for funds using fake NGOs or the COA for taking its sweet time in exposing the anomaly? Like a mad dog, every Filipino is frothing in the mouth anxiously waiting for the drama to unfold. Will her surrender pave the way to uncover the truth or will it be an inquisition for scapegoats? As PNoy declared in an interview sometime ago that “hunt for the truth” would begin following her arrest. Will it really flesh out the sacred truth as everyone expects? Or will it heap more skepticism on part of the president as he escorted Napoles at an unholy hour to Camp Crame? The turn of events boggles the mind as the whole citizenry speculates on the issue’s outcome that everybody declares himself an authority on the subject. The unfolding drama of the pork barrel scam has shifted into a tragedy where Napoles will have to face her ghosts for the massive pilferage of public funds. Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged queen of pork barrel scam has become a criminal liability that no one among her social friends or bosom buddies would dare touch her with a ten foot pole for fear of being persecuted by an irate mob. Not even her senator friends would have the courage to post their photos on “instagram,” worse they will even deny knowing her. According to DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, “given Napoles’ knowledge of the racket, and the big names involved, there are people who want to silence her permanently.” In a newspaper report, Napoles’ counsel Lorna Kapunan said her client is in clear and present danger. We cannot discount the fact that some of the suspects would hire professional hit men to try and kill her considering the boundless power of the personalities involved. “Any adverse event could prevent Napoles from fully identifying the senators and congressmen with whom she had PDAF transactions. Any of the suspects could hire operatives to silence her.” Senator Miriam Santiago said. A great number of personalities became instant household names overnight especially the legislators whose names were spilled by the PDAF whistle blowers. Earlier reports had linked Senators Bong Revilla Jr., Ferdinand MarcosJr. , Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Gregorio Honasan and 23 congressmen to the pork barrel scam. Almost every day after Napoles’ surrender a new twist unfolds in the ensuing drama as a leading newspaper had learned that Napoles withdrew an undisclosed amount of money before the court could order her bank accounts frozen and soon after closing the old account she opened a new one. In a report, Napoles allegedly owns 415 bank accounts, 107 are said to be in the name of Napoles who used the names Jannet Napoles Lim and Jenny Lim. Oh boy, talk about ventre a terre, her mind works faster than Dr. Hannibal Lechter. In the thick of the pork scam plot, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Nonnatus Rojas resigned from his post out of ‘delicadeza” to the consternation of DOJ Secretary Leila De Lima. The resignation came at the heels of the investigation in connection with a tip received by Napoles the night her warrant of arrest would be served, paving the way for her escape. According to a newspaper report, the day Napoles sent surrender feelers to President Aquino, he said he smells a rat at the NBI prompting him to turn over custody of Napoles to the PNP. Department of Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said that the real “rats in the NBI”, not resigned NBI Director Nonnatus Rojas, are still gnawing their way deep into the agency. De Lima demanded the resignation of all six deputy directors of the NBI to get rid of the four whom she said she wanted out because of “trust and integrity” issues. NBI Deputy Director for Administrative Service Edmundo Arugay heeded De Lima’s call and has submitted his resignation to take effect on September 14 when he returns from a trip. Arugay said that he resigned out of “delicadeza.” In a late breaking report (as of this writing), some of the witnesses to the PDAF scam have already retracted their testimony in exchange for “rewards” for their cooperation. Whoa, I can hear the “price tag” song ringing in my ears. But the DOJ Secretary quickly doused cold water to the report, saying none of the witnesses have withdrawn their affidavits, contrary to what Napoles’ lawyer has been peddling. Adding more spice into the drama is Mam Janet’s health condition. According to PNP Public Information Office Chief Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore C. Sindac, Napoles’ movements are literally monitored 24/7 since the day she set foot at Fort Sto.Domingo detention cell. Sindac noted that Napoles suffered from hypertension and complained of nausea and headache. Her blood pressure rose to 200/130 and random blood sugar at 90. Sindac’s report was a far cry from the diagnosis made by the unnamed police nurse guarding Napoles who said that when she complained of a tingling sensation on her left face her blood pressure was at 110/74 and her body temperature was at 36.5 and her random blood sugar at 90 which were all normal. Adding more kink to the riveting pork barrel drama is an angry church rally held outside the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City last Tuesday, September 3, 2013 where priests and lay leaders headed by Fr. Chito Vicente vented their ire and demanded the abolition of the pork barrel. Bishop Broderick Pabillo also questioned the special treatment accorded by the government to the alleged pork barrel queen Janet Lim-Napoles, saying she should be treated like a common prisoner. Pabillo also questioned the government’s plan of holding court hearings at Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna instead of the Makati Regional Trial Court. He noted that the plan might compromise transparency. Sharing the limelight is whistle blower Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada who took a swipe at Napoles’ camp saying they might cite Janet’s medical condition and seek hospital arrest like former President Gloria Arroyo. In an interview with a different newspaper, Lozada said, “We can almost see the pattern. It’s laying the predicate. They are now priming the idea to the people that Napoles is sick.” The ten billion peso question is how do we see the end to this drama?
Posted on: Mon, 09 Sep 2013 12:49:02 +0000
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