Alleged Philippine graft ringleader insists on innocence
Manila (AFP) - The alleged mastermind of a corruption scandal that has ensnared some of the Philippines' most powerful politicians proclaimed her innocence Thursday as she appeared at a highly charged Senate inquiry wearing a bullet-proof vest.
College dropout Janet Lim Napoles is accused of conspiring with members of parliament to syphon off about 10 billion pesos ($230 million) in government funds in a complex fraud operation that lasted for many years.
Government prosecutors have said three sitting senators, five former congressmen and five ex-government agency chiefs were involved in the scam, which has triggered widespread outrage about deep-rooted corruption within the nation's ruling class.
"That is not true. It is all lies," Napoles told the nationally televised Senate hearing during a day of questioning during which she often sat stone-faced in a bullet-proof vest but at other times joked with her lawyers.
Napoles was taken from her detention centre in a convoy guarded by rifle-toting police commandos, and she was warned during the Senate proceedings that she had good reason to fear being killed.
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago said the senators accused of conspiring with Napoles were now hoping to kill her to ensure she did not testify against them.
"Tell the truth before the senators affected have you assassinated, that is your path to safety," said Santiago, one of the country's most outspoken politicians against corruption.
One of the senators implicated is 89-year-old Juan Ponce Enrile, the defence minister in Ferdinand Marcos's dictatorship of the 1970s and 1980s, who is one of the Philippines' great political survivors.
Enrile, who did not appear at Thursday's hearing, denied Santiago's accusations.
"I feel compelled to issue a statement on today's Senate hearing lest my silence in the face of the most outrageous allegations will be construed against me," he said.
Aides for the other two senators, who also did not turn up at the Senate, declined to comment.
The hearing was called to investigate the scam, with the aim of creating legislation to prevent a repeat.
Senators questioned Napoles about reports of her family's immense wealth including a luxury apartment, a fleet of expensive cars, a massive family mausoleum in a private cemetery and exclusive schools for her children.
Napoles denied she was extremely rich.
"We make just enough to get by," she said.
She also repeatedly invoked her right to remain silent, saying she did not want to jeopardise her defence against expected corruption and tax charges.
The justice department has recommended charges be laid against Napoles and 37 other people, but none has yet been filed. She was detained after being charged over the alleged kidnapping of the whistleblower in the case.
