Napoles to Pinoys: Forgive me

MANILA, Philippines — Businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles is asking forgiveness from God and from the Filipino people for the P10-billion pork barrel scam that she allegedly masterminded.

In her 32-page expanded affidavit obtained by the Department of Justice (DOJ), Napoles claimed that she did not know that she was violating the law when she transacted with government officials to funnel pork barrel funds to her foundations.

Napoles further claimed that her ignorance of the law led to her involvement in the misuse of pork barrel funds, but insisted that she was not the scam mastermind and was only a "victim" of the systemic corruption in government.

"Kaya nais ko pong ipaalam sa lahat ang aking pagsisisi at paghingi ng tawad - una sa Diyos at pangalawa sa sambayanang Pilipino na naapektuhan nito. Hindi ko rin akalain na ako ay halos itakwil o itatwa ng mga matataas na opisyal ng pamahalaan na gumamit sa akin at ang ilan sa kanila ay ipinagkaila na kilala ako," Napoles said in her affidavit.

On Monday, the DOJ submitted to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee the new affidavit of Napoles, which linked as many as 120 officials to the scam besides Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr.

After they were implicated in the scam, some senators denied dealing with the businesswoman.

Senate majority leader Alan Cayetano, one of those tagged by Napoles, said her affidavit was a "tailor-fitted" statement containing lies and inconsistencies.

"Ang gustong gawin ni Ms. Napoles maging acceptable ang kanyang immunity by turning the tables. Gusto niya, lahat ng politiko, masama, kahit yung mga nag-imbestiga sa kanya. At gusto niya, ang galit ng tao, sa amin mapunta, para tanggapin ang kanyang immunity," Cayetano said in an interview with the media on Tuesday.

President Benigno Aquino III also continues to doubt the credibility of Napoles, saying she might be using delaying tactics to avoid conviction.

"Dati parang kinamumuhian si Mrs. Napoles. Ngayon, 'pag nagsalita parang totoong-totoo ang sinasabi, paano kaya nangyari iyon? At saka hindi kaya mas nasa interes niya na palabuin iyong kwento, patagalin ang proseso at baka naman dumating ang panahon madaan sa limot," Aquino told the media on Tuesday.

The President added that he is not falling for Napoles' supposed plan.

"Wala tayong pakialam sa lahat ng iyon. Ang habol natin, ang pangako natin sa taumbayan, kung may ebidensya, sampahan ng kaso," Aquino said.

Aquino also believes there are others who are trying to sow confusion in the pork barrel scam investigation.

"I don’t have evidence right now. But I know personalities who are actively trying to muddle the issue," the President said.