Palace releases 24 photos in Cebu function

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang released yesterday 24 photographs taken during a function in Cebu on Nov. 30 last year showing members of the family of businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles in the same venue with President Aquino.

Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ricky Carandang said the photos were released to stop moves trying to link the President with Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the pork barrel fund scam.

He said the administration could not allow speculations to persist, especially since the President did not really know the Napoleses.

Mrs. Napoles surrendered to Aquino last Aug. 28 and he was accused of giving her preferential treatment.

Carandang said the earlier release of Aquino’s photo with Napoles’ daughter Jeane was apparently a diversionary tactic, an attempt to muddle or “misdirect” the issue.

“It seems that way. Well, biglang lalabas iyong picture at a time when the President says we are going to be filing charges. The timing is suspicious,” Carandang said.

“As soon as it came out, what I said was exactly the truth – that this was at a function in November, it was in Cebu, and that someone had her picture taken with him, as did many people. We are not hiding anything and I think, if something comes out like that, the best way to address it is to tell the truth – and that’s exactly what we’re doing here. We have nothing to hide here,” Carandang said.

He said he did not know who are behind the release in social media of the photos of Aquino with the younger Napoles.

Carandang stressed that the President was not bothered by the release of his photo with the younger Napoles and Malacañang officials deemed it best to release all the other photos to prove that it was not a private affair and it was even documented by official Palace photographers, and the photos only had to be drawn out of Palace files.