Guingona urges Napoles to cooperate

MANILA, Philippines - Beleaguered businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles has arrived at the Senate for today's Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the alleged multi-billion peso pork barrel scam.

Napoles arrived at the Senate grounds after her trip from Fort Sto. Domingo, Laguna, where she has been jailed in connection with her serious illegal detention case.

Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, opened the hearing shortly after 10 a.m..

In his opening statement, Guingona urged Napoles to cooperate and bare her knowledge on the pork barrel fund scam.

"Huwag ninyong sayangin ang pagkakataong ito," Guingona said. "Patunayan ninyo sa publiko na mayroon pang natitirang malasakit sa inyo para sa bayan."

Napoles has been provided with lawyers from the Public Attorney's Office.

Also attending the hearing are Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and the whistle-blowers in the alleged pork barrel scam including Benhur Luy.

At least 13 senators confirmed their attendance in today's pork barrel scam hearing, a television report said.

Napoles is facing plunder charges for allegedly pocketing lawmakers' pork barrel funds coursed to bogus non-government organizations she supposedly created.

More than 30 people have been charged including government officials and Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla.