Kapunan Withdraws as Napoles Counsel in Detention Case, Says De Lima

Justice secretary Leila De Lima said on Wednesday lawyer Lorna Kapunan has resigned as lead counsel of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles in the latter’s serious illegal detention case, Gma news online reported.

De Lima, in a text message to reporters said “Yes, but I don’t know why,” when asked about the reported withdrawal a few minutes after Kapunan left the bail hearing of Napoles at Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150, which is handling the case, Gma news online stated on Wednesday.”I don’t know the reason/s. It’s a matter between her and her client,” De Lima said.

Two plunder complaints at the Ombudsman for allegedly funneling government funds to ghost projects are charged against Napoles. She was arrested for allegedly detaining her former employee Benhur Luy, who eventually became a whistle-blower and exposed her alleged anomalous deals with government officials.

Attorney Kapunan had accompanied Napoles when the latter surrendered voluntarily to President Aquino, and has been vigorously defending her client in various media appearances.

Report said during the bail hearing on Wednesday, Kapunan handed Judge Elmo Alameda a piece of paper then left the courtroom. The contents of the document were not released to the media, and Kapunan’s mobile phone was switched off. Her colleague, defense lawyer Alfredo Villamor, was also tight-lipped about the issue, the report said.

Prosecution lawyer Christopher Garvida refused to confirm Kapunan’s supposed withdrawal. “We were told not to say anything. We might be cited in contempt,”

Court staff, meanwhile, have yet to receive any formal manifestation from Kapunan on her supposed withdrawal from the case.

Gma news online reported lawyer Diosfa Valencia, Branch 150 clerk of court, has said they have yet to receive any formal motion from Kapunan to withdraw as counsel for Napoles.

“There should be a written motion with conformity ng client nila. Dapat mag-file sila dito at makikita namin na may signature and conformity si Napoles,” she told reporters.

She said based on their records, Kapunan remains to be the counsel of Napoles. Valencia said the court needs to issue an order granting Kapunan’s motion before the withdrawal will take effect.

She added the note handed by Kapunan to Judge Alameda cannot be considered a formal motion as a note is not considered a part of court record.

Once the motion is granted by the court, Napoles can hire a replacement or just stick with his other lawyer Alfredo Villamor, Gma news online reported.

Meanwhile, lawyer Levito Baligod, counsel for the whistle-blowers, has told Gma News Online he has yet to confirm whether Kapunan has indeed withdrawn from the case.

“There was no formal withdrawal yet so on record she’s still the counsel,” Baligod said. “I don’t know the reason why she is withdrawing as counsel, if that is true. Baka may internal dynamics between her and her collaborating counsels,” he added.

Baligod said, however, that in case the withdrawal is true, it would “not affect any procedure or any substantial issue” surrounding the trial.

“Wala naman ako comment kung magaling si Kapunan or hindi. Basta kung maghahanap si Napoles ng bagong abogado, we are hoping she will be choosing iyong pangangalagaan ang karapatan niya,” Baligod said.

Source: Gma news online