Napoles Surrenders

Barely 24 hours since the announcement of the P10-million prize for information leading to her arrest, alleged ‘pork-barrel’ scam brain Janet Napoles surrendered Wednesday night to President Benigno Aquino III.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda issued a statement which stated that Napoles “surrendered” to Aquino at exactly 9:37 p.m. Wednesday, Gma news online reported. “The President turned her [Napoles] over to the custody of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas and Philippine National Police Director-General Alan Purisima for processing and booking,” the statement said.

Napoles has been charged of serious illegal detention over the alleged kidnapping of pork-barrel scam whistleblower, Benhur Luy. The statement, however, was silent as to Napoles’ brother, Reynald Lim, who is also implicated for the same charge. Lim is also wanted for the same offense.

The Palace stated that it welcomed Napoles’ surrender which came hours after Aquino announced a P10-million bounty for information leading to her capture. Napoles had been on the run since a Makati court issued an arrest warrant against her and her brother Reynald earlier this month, Gma news online said.

Napoles was implicated in the P10-billion scam involving the questionable use of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of some congressman and senators.

The scandal fueled outrage that prompted thousands of Filipinos to attend a march against the pork barrel system in Manila last Monday.

Reports said that security at Philippine National Police headquarters at Camp Crame was tight as Napoles, accompanied by Aquino, was brought there for booking, Gma news online said.

Napoles’s lawyer, Lorna Kapunan, said in a radio interview following Napoles’ surrender that her client feared for her safety.”She asked she be placed in a secure place. Maraming nakakainteres na matahimik siya forever,” Kapunan said in an interview over the radio. Kapunan said her client would cooperate in the investigation into the pork barrel mess.

“Siya naman matagal nagsasabi mag-a-appear siya sa anumang investigation, magsasabi siya ng totoo,” she said.

Meanwhile, in a television interview with the lawyer of pork-barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy, Atty. Levito Baligod, said that they are happy with the news that Napoles has surrendered. Baligod added that they are glad that Janet Napoles finally cooperated with the government.

Asked whether Napoles is qualified to become a state witness for the pork barrel sacm, Baligod said that Napoles is not qualified as she is the most guilty.

Sources: Gma news online, Abs Cbn news