Napoles insists on SC bail grant

MANILA — Incarcerated businesswoman Janet LimNapoles, the alleged mastermind of the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam, maintained that she should be granted bail over plunder charges.

In her 20-page supplemental petition to the Supreme Court, Napoles through her lawyers said the "weak" evidence and defective information of the Office of the Ombudsman justifies a bail grant.

In asking the SC, Napoles argued that the Sandiganbayan First Division erred in its December 2014 ruling denying her petition for bail.

Napoles is facing plunder before the First Division as coaccused former Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr.

Napoles cited the high court's July 2016 decision on the plunder case of former president and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in connection with the alleged misuse of the P366-million intelligence fund of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

In its July 2016 ruling, the SC reversed the Sandiganbayan First Division's decision and granted Arroyo's demurrer to evidence which prayed for dismissal of the case on the ground of the prosecution's failure to identify the main plunderer.

Napoles said that just like in the Arroyo case, the ombudsman's prosecution team failed to identify who among her, Revilla and his aide Richard Cambe is the "main plunderer."

Napoles maintained that under Republic Act 7080, a private individual cannot be charged with plunder unless there is an allegation that he or she conspired with a public official who must be the main plunderer in the case.

"The evidence so far adduced by the Respondent Office of the Ombudsman failed to show accused officers Revilla and Cam beast he main plunderer ... Otherwise stated, it must be shown that the public officer was principally and ultimately benefitted or enriched, not a private person, like petitioner Napoles," her petition read.