Napoles evasive, senators say

Businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles repeatedly invoked her right against self-incrimination during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the pork barrel scam on Thursday. Senator Teofisto "TG" Guingona III, head of the committee, said Napoles was being evasive. Guingona also lamented the seemingly "selective memory" of Napoles when she was being grilled by his colleagues. Senator JV Ejercito, likewise, expressed frustration that they could not "extract" answers from Napoles, who is accused of conspiring with lawmakers and other government officials in funneling billions of pork barrel to bogus non-government organizations (NGOs) she allegedly set up. Senator Cynthia Villar also said: "Wala naman pong masasagot sa ating mga katanungan." Meanwhile, Senator Grace Poe said Napoles should just spill the beans if she is indeed innocent in the whole scandal. Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago had also advised Napoles to reveal what she knows or risk being killed. ANC, November 7, 2013