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Sandiganbayan Acquits Janet Napoles In 16 Pork Barrel Scam Cases
Photograb from Supreme Court
The Sandiganbayan, the Philippines' anti-graft court, has acquitted Janet Lim Napoles, the central figure in the infamous pork barrel scam, in 16 criminal cases. The court found her "not guilty" due to the failure of the prosecution to prove her guilt beyond reasonable doubt in all 16 charges of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act No. 3019, also known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The court's ruling was made public on Monday, May 22, and it stated that the allegations against Napoles in the acquitted cases were considered "predicate crimes" of plunder. Napoles had already been charged and convicted in the Ramon Revilla Jr. case, where plunder charges were filed against her. The term "predicate crime" refers to a crime that acts as a component of a larger crime.
Furthermore, the court also lifted the hold departure orders issued against Napoles in relation to the 16 cases where she was acquitted. This means that she will no longer face travel restrictions imposed by the court.
However, the legal battle for Napoles is not entirely over. In a separate set of Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) cases involving the late Davao del Sur representative Douglas Cagas, Napoles was found guilty of two counts of graft and two counts of malversation. The Sandiganbayan 2nd Division, in a decision promulgated on May 19, 2023, highlighted that the Anti-Money Laundering Council report corroborated the testimony of whistleblower Benhur Luy, who stated that the non-government organizations involved in the PDAF scheme were owned, controlled, and operated by Napoles.
In addition to Napoles, other accused individuals, including Belina Concepcion, Mylene Encarnacion, and Maria Rosalinda Lacsamana, were also found guilty of graft by the court.
The acquittal of Janet Napoles in the 16 pork barrel scam cases has raised eyebrows and sparked discussions about the state of the country's justice system. Critics argue that this verdict might undermine the fight against corruption and erode public trust in the judiciary.
The court's ruling was made public on Monday, May 22, and it stated that the allegations against Napoles in the acquitted cases were considered "predicate crimes" of plunder. Napoles had already been charged and convicted in the Ramon Revilla Jr. case, where plunder charges were filed against her. The term "predicate crime" refers to a crime that acts as a component of a larger crime.
Furthermore, the court also lifted the hold departure orders issued against Napoles in relation to the 16 cases where she was acquitted. This means that she will no longer face travel restrictions imposed by the court.
However, the legal battle for Napoles is not entirely over. In a separate set of Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) cases involving the late Davao del Sur representative Douglas Cagas, Napoles was found guilty of two counts of graft and two counts of malversation. The Sandiganbayan 2nd Division, in a decision promulgated on May 19, 2023, highlighted that the Anti-Money Laundering Council report corroborated the testimony of whistleblower Benhur Luy, who stated that the non-government organizations involved in the PDAF scheme were owned, controlled, and operated by Napoles.
In addition to Napoles, other accused individuals, including Belina Concepcion, Mylene Encarnacion, and Maria Rosalinda Lacsamana, were also found guilty of graft by the court.
The acquittal of Janet Napoles in the 16 pork barrel scam cases has raised eyebrows and sparked discussions about the state of the country's justice system. Critics argue that this verdict might undermine the fight against corruption and erode public trust in the judiciary.
May 22, 2023
