Witness: ERC chief escorted Napoles around House

MANILA, Philippines - Former Pampanga congresswoman and now Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chief Zenaida Ducut accompanied Janet Lim-Napoles when the alleged pork barrel scam mastermind made the rounds of the House of Representatives, a witness told the Sandiganbayan yesterday.

Testifying during the bail hearing of Napoles before the anti-graft court’s Third Division, Merlina Suñas said she personally witnessed how Ducut would accompany Napoles during her visits to the chamber.

Ducut, tagged as the agent of Napoles in the House, allegedly earned kickbacks or commissions from pork barrel funds that went to bogus non-government organizations (NGOs) that implemented ghost projects.

Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang asked the witness if the rounds of Napoles meant transferring from one office to another. 

“Yes. She was accompanied by congresswoman Ducut,” Suñas said in Filipino.

She said she was with Napoles when the businesswoman visited the offices of lawmakers who were clients of her former boss.

Meanwhile, former Benguet Rep. Samuel Dangwa pleaded not guilty to graft and malversation charges filed against him before the Sandiganbayan.

Dangwa is among five former lawmakers indicted by the ombudsman for allegedly pocketing P42.1 million in kickbacks from Napoles from 2004 to 2010.

The court set the preliminary hearing on his case on July 16.

Sens. Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. are on trial for plunder in connection with the pork barrel scam.