Truth will set me free, JPE tells Janet

MANILA, Philippines - A parody of justice.

This was how Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile described yesterday’s Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing following the attacks hurled against him by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

Enrile urged businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles “to reveal the whole truth no matter who is hurt, as only the truth will set me free.”

Enrile’s response came after Santiago hurled a series of verbal attacks against him, insisting that he was the one being alluded to by the nickname “Tanda” by the whistle-blowers in the pork barrel scam.

“But for some very members of the committee to use the Blue Ribbon hearing to make wild-eyed charges, baseless assumptions, and false accusations today converted the investigation into a parody of justice,” Enrile said.

“They should lead the facts to a just conclusion instead of coraling their own predilections into a pre-ordained conclusion,” he said.

Although sidelined by her sickness, Santiago attended yesterday’s hearing where she wasted no time in criticizing Enrile, whom she even insinuated as having the capability to hurt Napoles.

Enrile said he felt compelled to issue a statement about the hearing to explain his side on the issue.

“Lest my silence in the face of the most outrageous allegations will be construed against me, I support any investigation that seeks to uncover the truth about this PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) scam,” he said.

Enrile also reiterated his innocence over charges that he misused millions of his pork barrel fund.

He also defended his former chief of staff Gigi Reyes, who has been implicated in the controversy.

Reyes, who has reportedly fled the country, was also among those who are now facing a plunder complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman.

“Finally, let me reiterate my innocence, and that of my staff members and my office,” the former Senate president said.