Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre stated in a television interview that the alleged PDAF scam mastermind's lawyer talked to him about the detained businesswoman's plan to file charges against more personalities who took advantage of the corruption scandal.
Napoles also named Senator Antonio Trillanes, Senator Leila de Lima and Senator Franklin Drilon.
"Ang mga nabanggit niyang personalities noong nakaraang administrasyon ay sina Secretary Abad, parang kasama rin si Senator Trillanes, Senator De Lima at [former] Senate President Drilon," Justice Secretary stated.
Aguirre also explained and made it clear that the government will not reopen the probe for the scam just to chase after political opponents.
"Iyan lamang ay pagpapatupad ng katarungan sapagkat kung ikaw ay nagkasala, at alam naman natin na kung ikaw ang namuno lalong lalo na sa napakalaking pag-rape sa ating kabang bayan," he said.
Meanwhile, Senator Trillanes dismissed Aguirre's allegations tying him to the misuse of Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
"I categorically deny any involvement in any irregularity regarding PDAF , DAP or any government funds, for that matter," Trillanes stated. The senator said that he wasn't inlcuded nor mentioned in the list provided by Napoles when it was investigated 2013.
"Aguirre has been using his office to persecute and harass members of the opposition by fabricating testimonies from dubious convicts or detainees such as the Bilibid drug lords, Kerwin Espinosa and now Napoles," said the so-called critic of the current administration.
On Monday, Senator Franklin Drilon said in his statement that any attempt linking him to the misuse of pork barrel funds is just a "black propaganda" and "revenge" against the opposition bloc.
"I have said this many times before and I will say it again: I vehemently deny any insinuation by the Secretary of Justice that I was involved in any wrongdoing regarding the Priority Development Assistance Fund," he said. "Any allegation that I misused public funds or that I coursed it through Napoles or any bogus non-government organization at any point is a blatant lie," the senator added.
The Senate Minority Leader said that he will wait for the copy of Napoles' affidavit. He also stated that the Justice Secretary's intentions are "outright black propaganda and political harassment intended to silence the members of the opposition."
"The intention is obvious from the personalities being linked. Sinu-sino ba ang target ng administrasyon...If this is not revenge, I don’t know what it is," Drilon said.
The previous administration only filed charges on few political personalities including Senator Jinggoy Estrada and Senator Bong Revilla.
Source: GMA
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