Aguirre confirms Napoles lawyer met with him, Medialdea

MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Tuesday confirmed that he and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea met with Stephen David, the lawyer of alleged pork barrel mastermind Janet Lim Napoles, at Malacañan.

 

Aguirre said the meeting occurred around two to three weeks ago at the Palace. He said David sought for their opinion regarding the jail transfer of his client.

 

The justice chief’s confirmation came after Medialdea issued a statement denying that he gave legal advice to David. Aguirre, however, clarified that what they said could not be considered as legal advice as it was just an opinion.

 

According to Aguirre, David first asked for his opinion. He said that in David's viewpoint, as long as Napoles is under the Witness Protection Program, she could be taken out of the Taguig detention cell. The justice secretary said he disagreed with the lawyer.

 

According to him, he told David to file necessary motions before the divisions of the Sandiganbayan.

 

“We need a favorable order from the three divisions of Sandiganbayan,” Aguirre said in Filipino at a press briefing.

 

The justice secretary said he and Medialdea have the same opinion.

 

“He then sought for Medialdea’s opinion to reverse my opinion but ES have the same decision,” Aguirre said.

 

David earlier claimed that Medialdea told him to file a motion for jail transfer before the Sandiganbayan which his camp followed last Friday. 

 

This was denied by Medialdea.

 

The Department of Justice has placed Napoles under the WPP last February 27. According to Aguirre, Napoles’ camp said she is now ready to do a tell-all regarding the pork barrel anomaly so she was granted a provisional coverage of the WPP.

 

Aguirre, however, reminded David that it is the latter's duty to get Napoles out of Taguig jail.

 

The justice chief also said he is willing to study the coverage of the WPP because David's opinion might also be correct.