EDITORIAL - Tell-all

With Janet Lim-Napoles deciding to sing, is it over for the senators and other individuals accused of involvement in the pork barrel scam? Only if she tells the whole truth, and the prosecution presents an airtight case that cannot be punctured by the defense.

With the Department of Justice apparently satisfied with what has been described as Napoles’ “tell-all” affidavit, it is still up to the Office of the Ombudsman to evaluate her testimony for endorsement to the Sandiganbayan so she can become a state witness and enjoy immunity from prosecution. The anti-graft court will decide if the businesswoman accused of being the scam mastermind can be allowed to turn state witness.

Can the person accused of being the most guilty turn state witness? Some officials have explained that there is an exception to the rule. The Sandiganbayan will still have to assess if the exception applies to Napoles, who in the meantime is recuperating from surgery in a government hospital. Prosecutors apparently believe she is the only individual with personal knowledge that can directly link senators – and not just the original three who have been indicted – as well as congressmen to the funneling of billions in pork barrel funds to personal accounts using bogus non-government organizations.

It’s been a year since this scandal erupted. The nation has been treated to pieces of the truth, but there are still many missing parts. Justice officials said they are verifying Napoles’ statement implicating more lawmakers in the scam.

The nation wants to see the entire picture. Will Napoles tell the whole truth and be able to provide the missing pieces? Equally important, for those who believe she does not deserve immunity, is whether she is the only one who can complete the picture.