Napoles newest member of 'wheelchair society' - prelate

MANILA, Philippines -  Businesswoman Janet Napoles, the alleged brains behind the P10-billion pork barrel scam, is the newest member of the so-called "wheelchair society," Catholic Church official said on Wednesday.

 

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz said that the wheelchair society has been the new trend in the Philippine justice system, with people accused of stealing from government coffers getting sick after they are implicated to anomalies.

 

The prelate said that the first member of the the wheelchair society was former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who was followed by ousted Chief Justice Renato Corona.

 

"Tulad ng mga naunang akusado, tiyak na dadaing din ang mga ito ng iba’t ibang sakit. That is the new gimmick, at mukha namang ang gimmick ay umuunlad. Ito nga si Napoles nasa operating room na. Ayoko namang sabihin yung iba baka nga ganun din. Pero parang standard na yun, policy basta ikaw ay na-accused. Yung ngang sa PAGIBIG scam, masakit na rin daw ang braso, we will see what will happen," Archbishop Cruz told Church-run Radyo Veritas.

 

A Makati City court earlier allowed Napoles,  who is facing illegal detention charges, to undergo surgery at the Ospital ng Makati for her medical condition. 

 

Meanwhile, despite the filing of plunder charges against Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. over the pork barrel scam, the prelate said he doubts that any of these senators would be held responsible due to the slow pace of the justice system in the country.