Panelo tells Napoles: Show proof and give sworn statement on Drilon campaign donation

JANET LIM-NAPOLES, the alleged mastermind of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam, should execute a sworn statement in relation to her latest claim that she gave Liberal Party Senator Franklin M. Drilon P5 million as a campaign donation during the 2010 elections, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said on Tuesday, Jan. 23.

“This Napoles should execute a sworn statement under oath para credible s’ya, otherwise chismis lang ’yon (it’s just a rumor). It doesn’t also mean na she’s credible although she has a sworn statement, syempre to be fair to everybody,” Mr. Panelo told reporters in a chance interview at the Palace.

The chief legal counsel added that Ms. Napoles’ statement should include “proof” to support her allegation.

Mr. Panelo also denied that the administration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte had a hand in Ms. Napoles’ revelation.

“This administration doesn’t interfere with anybody. That’s the policy, absolute policy. No interference with any departments, agencies, or other branches of government,” he said.

For his part, Presidential Spokesperson Herminio Harry L. Roque, Jr. said the Office of the Ombudsman should conduct an investigation on Ms. Napoles’ claim.

“Well, I think it is something that should be investigated. This is information which, for the first time, was revealed by Janet Lim Napoles. And I think, the Constitution, in providing for accountability of public officers is the legal basis for the relevant government agency to conduct an investigation. I would hope that the Ombudsman on its own would conduct its probe. And I think the DoJ (Department of Justice) also on its own should also conduct its own probe,” Mr. Roque said at Tuesday’s press briefing.

The spokesman clarified as well that the Palace does not intend to limit the investigation to the possible involvement of Liberal Party politicians in the PDAF scam. “We want the whole truth and nothing but the truth to come out of this PDAF scam.”

Mr. Roque explained as well that “the DoJ can conduct its investigation but all that it can do is to submit its findings to the Ombudsman, because the Ombudsman would still have to be the one to conduct preliminary investigation.”

“So medyo options are limited. But certainly, I’m sure that DoJ will be true to its mandate and will proceed with case buildup by investigating this,” the spokesman further said. — Arjay L. Balinbin