Time for Napoles to talk–group

Time for Napoles to talk–group

BUSINESSWOMAN Janet Lim-Napoles should start talking in the misuse of P125-million Malampaya Fund, the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said on Wednesday.

Pamalakaya Vice Chairman Salvador France said Napoles, who is currently detained in connection with the multibillion-peso pork-barrel scam should tell everything she knows about the involvement of President Aquino and other officials in the case “for the sake of truth, justice and transparency.”

The group issued the challenge to Napoles a day after the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas filed plunder raps against Mr. Aquino and 11 others, including Napoles and two other Cabinet members.

Also named respondents in the 16-page complaint, together with Mr. Aquino and Napoles, are Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Also included in the complaint are whistle-blower Benhur Luy; former Agrarian Reform Undersecretary Narciso Nieto; Agrarian Reform Undersecretary Jerry Pacturan of the Department of Agrarian Reform’s (DAR) Support Services Office; Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos; Teresita Reyes; Ashley Baul; Simplicio Gumafelex; John Raymund de Asis; John Lim; Nemesio Pablo Jr; and John and Jane Does.

The Malampaya funds that were supposed to promote organic farming were coursed through the DAR and transfered to bogus non-governmental organizations linked to Napoles.

France said that despite the public’s insistence for the Commission on Audit (COA) to undertake a comprehensive audit of the controversial Malampaya Fund not only during the time of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo but also under the present administration, the state-run auditor has yet to undertake its constitutional duty to review the use of Malamapaya Fund.

“The Filipino public deserves not only 50 percent of the picture. Former President Arroyo has set the stage for plunder, and there is a very strong sense that such legacy might be continued under the present administration of Aquino. To make the equation exact, the COA should also start digging into how the Aquino administration used the money drawn from Malampaya Fund,” France said.

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