De Lima seeks add’l time to submit Napoles’ list, affidavit

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. TWITTER FILE PHOTO

MANILA — Justice Secretary Leila M. De Lima on Wednesday said that she may ask for additional time to submit the list and affidavit of Janet Lim-Napoles.

Napoles is the alleged “brains” behind the P10-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and the P900-million Malampaya Fund scams.

According to De Lima, she may request the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee for an additional period of time within which to formally submit the list and affidavit of Napoles.

De Lima noted that it is far-fetched that the second affidavit of Napoles will be finished Wednesday containing the more complete and detailed narration about the pork barrel scam.

De Lima said that the camp of Napoles submitted on Tuesday the initial affidavit to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

However, she said that it only covers her (Napoles) transactions with the lawmakers included in the first batch of complaints filed before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the PDAF scam and Malampaya Fund scam.

De Lima added that Napoles already signed the initial affidavit, but the DOJ is still waiting for her second affidavit which is expected to cover her transactions with all the lawmakers included in her list.

The DOJ chief hoped that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will understand their situation and that it will agree to give them more time of even a couple of days or just one week.

De Lima believed that in the spirit of fair play, she should submit the list and complete affidavit of Napoles both at the same time.