Napoles Will Return P2-B 'Pork Barrel Scam'

 

 A lawyer of businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles yesterday said his client is willing to return P2 billion of what she earned from the P10-billion pork barrel scam to the government.
It was not immediately known whether this is one of the conditions set for Napoles, the alleged pork barrel scam mastermind, to be admitted to the government Witness Protection Program (WPP). But this new twist developed as immunity talks between Napoles, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) are now underway.
Lawyer Stephen David, one of Napoles’ lawyers, said his client is willing to give back what she reaped from the multi-billion-peso racket involving the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel funds of lawmakers, which she started during the Arroyo administration.
Based on their calculations, David claimed that Napoles only gained P2 billion from the scam even though news reports said that P10 billion worth of PDAF was lost to the bogus non-government organizations (NGOs) of Napoles.
“Dapat talagang ibalik iyon. Willing naman si Mrs. Napoles na ibalik iyon,” David said.
He also noted that while his client is willing to return the amount, Napoles would not be able to pay in cash as her assets are currently frozen. “Wala siyang pera,” he said.
But the lawyer of whistleblower Benhur Luy, Atty. Reji Mendoza, belied David’s claim, saying Napoles has other assets that have yet to be frozen.