Napoles can't be state witness - Aquino

MANILA, Philippines - Businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the multi-billion pork barrel scam, is not qualified to become state witness as shown by the proceedings of the case, President Benigno Aquino III said Friday.

"Wala pa kong naririnig na gusto niyang ibahaging impormasyon, so pa'no natin masasabing dapat maging witness siya kung wala siyang binabahaging impormasyon?" Aquino said.

"Premature na sabihing puwede siya maging state witness," he added.

In case Napoles want to divulge information, it is up to the Department of Justice to determine whether her testimony would be helpful to the case, the President said.

Aquino also said that Napoles still appears to be among the most guilty in the scam, where billions of public funds were diverted to non-existent non-governmnet organizations and into the pockets of politicians.

"Sa ngayon parang siya ang parang nasa sentro. So paano mo nasasabing [she's] not the most guitly?" he explained.

On whether there is someone else using Napoles as front, Aquino said there is no evidence yet that says so.

"Siya ba ang pasimuno? Hindi ganoong ka-klaro pa. Pero nasa sentro siya ng mga involvement ng diumanoy maraming tao," he said.

The President admitted not being able to watch the entire Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the "pork" scam on Thursday as he was engaged in several meetings.

Aquino, however, said that he hopes the Senate's investigation on the scam which some lawmakers are allegedly involved in will lead to concrete measures to safeguard public funds.

"Karapatan ng Senado na magpatawag ng kaukulang witness ... Buti na ang buong paksa ay natutukoy sa pang-aabuso ng sistema. Maganda ngang malaman nila kung paano naabuso ang sistema na 'to para mailagay ang kaukalang safeguards para 'di na maabuso sa susunod na panahon," he said.