By ANDREO CALONZO, GMA News, May 26, 2014 7:28pm
(Updated 10:15 p.m.) A former First Lady, a former Armed Forces chief of staff and Philippine basketball's living legend were among the new names in Janet Lim Napoles' latest list of present and former senators who she said benefited from the pork barrel scam that she ran since the late 1990's.
In an affidavit obtained by the Senate blue ribbon committee Monday, Napoles for the first time named six former senators and three incumbents among those that benefited from the multi-billion-peso fraud.
(Updated 10:15 p.m.) A former First Lady, a former Armed Forces chief of staff and Philippine basketball's living legend were among the new names in Janet Lim Napoles' latest list of present and former senators who she said benefited from the pork barrel scam that she ran since the late 1990's.
In an affidavit obtained by the Senate blue ribbon committee Monday, Napoles for the first time named six former senators and three incumbents among those that benefited from the multi-billion-peso fraud.
Among them were Luisa “Loi” Ejercito, wife for former President Joseph Estrada and mother of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada; Rodolfo "Pong" Biazon, an AFP chief of staff during the first Aquino administration; and Robert Jaworski, a well-loved former playing coach in Philippine basketball. Jinggoy Estrada is one of the three senators already charged with plunder before the Ombudsman in connection with the scam.
The other former senators Napoles named for the first time were Tessie Aquino-Oreta, an aunt of President Benigno Aquino III; Ramon Magsaysay Jr., the son and namesake of the late former President; and Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., a former Senate President.
As of posting time, GMA News Online is getting the side of those implicated for the first time. Senators Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., Cynthia Villar and Lito Lapid were the incumbent senators named for the first time on a list drawn by Napoles.
GMA News Online already contacted the camps of Marcos, Villar and Lapid for comment on Napoles' accusations, but they have yet to respond as of posting time.
Marcos had earlier denied giving his pork barrel allocations to foundations associated with Napoles. He claimed his signature was forged in a letter releasing these funds.
In her latest affidavit, Napoles again named the three senators already facing plunder raps in connection with the pork barrel scam--Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. The others she named were Senators Gregorio Honasan, Loren Legarda, Vicente Sotto III, Manuel Villar and former senator Robert Barbers.
Napoles also identified Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Francis Escudero as recipients of campaign contributions from her funds.
Escudero has denied the allegation.
Napoles likewise listed as her alleged conspirators 100 other former and incumbent members of the House of Representatives, including current Budget Secretary Florencio Abad.
The alleged pork barrel scam mastermind claimed she met Abad through a certain Manuel Jarmin at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City.
Napoles said she handed P2 million to Abad during this meeting, after he supposedly explained what a special allotment release order (SARO) is. The SARO is a document that authorizes the release of pork barrel funds.
Abad has repeatedly denied any connection with Napoles as regards his pork barrel allocation when he was still Batanes congressman.
The alleged pork barrel mastermind also identified alleged "agents" of lawmakers, which included government witness Ruby Tuason and Energy Regulatory Commission chairperson Zenaida Ducut. Napoles also implicated Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala in the alleged scam.
The Cabinet official supposedly signed documents for the list of pork barrel funds to foundations connected with Napoles. — NB/BM, GMA News
The other former senators Napoles named for the first time were Tessie Aquino-Oreta, an aunt of President Benigno Aquino III; Ramon Magsaysay Jr., the son and namesake of the late former President; and Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., a former Senate President.
As of posting time, GMA News Online is getting the side of those implicated for the first time. Senators Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., Cynthia Villar and Lito Lapid were the incumbent senators named for the first time on a list drawn by Napoles.
GMA News Online already contacted the camps of Marcos, Villar and Lapid for comment on Napoles' accusations, but they have yet to respond as of posting time.
Marcos had earlier denied giving his pork barrel allocations to foundations associated with Napoles. He claimed his signature was forged in a letter releasing these funds.
In her latest affidavit, Napoles again named the three senators already facing plunder raps in connection with the pork barrel scam--Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. The others she named were Senators Gregorio Honasan, Loren Legarda, Vicente Sotto III, Manuel Villar and former senator Robert Barbers.
Napoles also identified Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Francis Escudero as recipients of campaign contributions from her funds.
Escudero has denied the allegation.
Napoles likewise listed as her alleged conspirators 100 other former and incumbent members of the House of Representatives, including current Budget Secretary Florencio Abad.
The alleged pork barrel scam mastermind claimed she met Abad through a certain Manuel Jarmin at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City.
Napoles said she handed P2 million to Abad during this meeting, after he supposedly explained what a special allotment release order (SARO) is. The SARO is a document that authorizes the release of pork barrel funds.
Abad has repeatedly denied any connection with Napoles as regards his pork barrel allocation when he was still Batanes congressman.
The alleged pork barrel mastermind also identified alleged "agents" of lawmakers, which included government witness Ruby Tuason and Energy Regulatory Commission chairperson Zenaida Ducut. Napoles also implicated Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala in the alleged scam.
The Cabinet official supposedly signed documents for the list of pork barrel funds to foundations connected with Napoles. — NB/BM, GMA News