Tambayan ng mga Chicx at Tsonx => General Discussion => Current Events => Topic started by: Zurca on November 07, 2013, 11:24:47 PM
Title: Napoles insists on innocence
Post by: Zurca on November 07, 2013, 11:24:47 PM
MANILA - The alleged mastermind of a corruption scandal that has ensnared some of the Philippines' most powerful politicians proclaimed her innocence Thursday as she appeared at a highly charged Senate inquiry wearing a bullet-proof vest.
College dropout Janet Lim Napoles is accused of conspiring with members of parliament to syphon off about 10 billion pesos ($230 million) in government funds in a complex fraud operation that lasted for many years.
Government prosecutors have said three sitting senators, five former congressmen and five ex-government agency chiefs were involved in the scam, which has triggered widespread outrage about deep-rooted corruption within the nation's ruling class.
"That is not true. It is all lies," Napoles told the nationally televised Senate hearing during a day of questioning during which she often sat stone-faced in a bullet-proof vest but at other times joked with her lawyers.
Napoles was taken from her detention centre in a convoy guarded by rifle-toting police commandos, and she was warned during the Senate proceedings that she had good reason to fear being killed.
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago said the senators accused of conspiring with Napoles were now hoping to kill her to ensure she did not testify against them.
"Tell the truth before the senators affected have you assassinated, that is your path to safety," said Santiago, one of the country's most outspoken politicians against corruption.
One of the senators implicated is 89-year-old Juan Ponce Enrile, the defence minister in Ferdinand Marcos's dictatorship of the 1970s and 1980s, who is one of the Philippines' great political survivors.
Enrile, who did not appear at Thursday's hearing, denied Santiago's accusations.
"I feel compelled to issue a statement on today's Senate hearing lest my silence in the face of the most outrageous allegations will be construed against me," he said.
Aides for the other two senators, who also did not turn up at the Senate, declined to comment.
The hearing was called to investigate the scam, with the aim of creating legislation to prevent a repeat.
Senators questioned Napoles about reports of her family's immense wealth including a luxury apartment, a fleet of expensive cars, a massive family mausoleum in a private cemetery and exclusive schools for her children.
Napoles denied she was extremely rich.
"We make just enough to get by," she said.
She also repeatedly invoked her right to remain silent, saying she did not want to jeopardise her defence against expected corruption and tax charges.
The justice department has recommended charges be laid against Napoles and 37 other people, but none has yet been filed. She was detained after being charged over the alleged kidnapping of the whistleblower in the case.
From ABS-CBNnews.com (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/11/07/13/napoles-insists-innocence)
Title: Re: Napoles insists on innocence
Post by: schneizel on November 07, 2013, 11:38:56 PM
pork barrel scam queen... sya pa ata ang may amnesia girl... at sirang plaka sa "i invoke my right", "nakalimutan ko na po" and " di ko po alam"...
Title: Re: Napoles insists on innocence
Post by: Prime™ on November 08, 2013, 04:41:00 AM
Either she is corrupt to the bone and playing incredibly stupid and good at it or a genuine ignoramus na hindi niya alam when she is cornered and should spill the beans. Perhaps in her own twisted mind she thinks this will all go away and will be back in business as soon as people forget.
There is very little doubt of her guilt, obvious naman sa consistency ng witnesses and against her dismissive and at times abrasive answer and demeanor. It's all a matter of technicalities, parang yung isa na naka hospital arrest. Every one knows how corrupt that person was, yet it's like a big elephant in the room being ignored. Kelan din kaya trial non?
Anyway, all I can say is she gave the impression of being thought well, and malakas ang loob eh. Parang napangakuan ito ng mga kakampi niya. She acts as if she was protected by The Lord of darkness himself.
Title: Re: Napoles insists on innocence
Post by: schneizel on November 11, 2013, 12:08:06 AM
pero di ko din mapigilan isipin na di sya sumasagot ng matino kasi pwedeng hawak na ng mga senador at iba pang involve ang buhay ng family nya... kaya cguro nag request din sya ng isang private meeting...
Title: Re: Napoles insists on innocence
Post by: Itachi101 on November 11, 2013, 12:18:00 AM
guilty na guilty na nga may innocence pang sinasabi yan
Title: Re: Napoles insists on innocence
Post by: xxxchoholic Rai ♥ on November 11, 2013, 08:28:36 PM
i wont say she is guilty but she's really kinda stupid
with all the witnesses out there pointing her she still insist
her innocence? i dont see her getting out of this
sent from abacus using babytalk 12000
Title: Re: Napoles insists on innocence
Post by: fayt on November 11, 2013, 08:32:18 PM
what do we expect na isasagot nyan..
sa mukha pa lang pede na mawithstand ang super typhoon yolanda...