PRRD denies hand in Napoles’ claim against Drilon

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte sings the Philippine National Anthem during the establishment of the TienDA Para sa mga Bayani at Camp General Manuel Yan in Mawab Sr. in Mawab Compostela Valley Province on January 22, 2018. Also in the photo are Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorezana and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Rey Guerrero. (Photo by Richard Madelo/Presidential Photo)

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said he had nothing to do with alleged pork barrel mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles’ claim that she gave Senator Franklin Drilon some PHP5 million worth of campaign donation in 2010.

“Senator Drilon, if I talked to somebody urging a case against you sa PDAF, bring that person in my presence and I will resign because you are my friend,” Duterte said in his speech before he left for India-ASEAN Summit in New Delhi.

President Duterte said “it is not my style” to search for controversies or cases that can be used against the opposition.

“It is not in my system. I don’t even care about your case in Mamasapano,” President Duterte said, referring to a botched police operation that claimed the lives of 44 Special Action Forces (SAF) on Jan. 25, 2015.

In February last year, President Duterte signed Proclamation No. 164 declaring January 25 of every year as a day of national remembrance for the heroic sacrifice of the 44 SAF commandos.

The 44 elite forces of the Philippine National Police (PNP) were part of the police operation dubbed Oplan Exodus which aims to capture Malaysian bomb expert Zulkifli Adhir alias Marwan in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

The Mamasapano incident happened under the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III, who is Drilon’s political ally.

Last Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Napoles’ claim against Drilon “is something that should be investigated” by the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice.

In an interview with television broadcaster Erwin Tulfo, Napoles said she gave PHP5 million to Drilon during the 2010 elections.

Roque said Napoles, being the key figure in the pork barrel scam, should back up her statement against Drilon with “physical evidence.”

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo agreed with Roque that Napoles should execute sworn statement to make herself credible.

“Otherwise, it’s just hearsay. Just to be fair to everyone,” Panelo said.

Panelo has downplayed speculation that the Duterte administration is using Napoles to pin down his critics.