Senator Jinggoy Estrada (UNTV News)
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Jinggoy Estrada is having doubts if there may be a hidden agenda behind the decision of Makati City RTC Branch 150 on finding Janet Lim Napoles guilty of serious illegal detention.
According to Estrada, the court’s decision could have gone out due to some considerations of the other cases pending before the Sandiganbayan.
“No way out yung lower court na i-convict si Janet Lim Napoles. Palagay ko, kaya kinonvict yun just to certify that the credibility of Benhur Luy is intact. Kasi pag di na convict si Napoles at sasabihin ng lower court na walang kredibilidad si Benhur, of course, it will affect the cases here at the Sandiganbayan.”
(There’s no way out for the lower court but to convict Janet Lim Napoles. In my opinion, she was just convicted to certify that the credibility of Benhur Luy is intact. Because if Napoles did not get convicted, and the lower court decides Benhur lacks credibility, then of course, it will affect the cases here at the Sandiganbayan.)
Estrada said he has a source saying Judge Elmo Alameda of Makati City RTC could have been influenced by the Department of Justice.
“May nakakita na mismong sa sala nung judge merong mga representative ng DOJ na nagkakape sa sala ng judge. What are they doing there? During the trial ito. What is their business there in the office of the judge?” Estrada questioned.
(Someone saw representatives from DOJ having coffee at the judge’s sala. What were they doing there? This was during the trial. What is their business there in the office of the judge?)
Estrada alleged this happened the day before the court sentenced Napoles to reclusion perpetua or imprisonment ranging from 20 to 30 years.
The senator pointed Undersectary Jose Justiniano as one of the people from DOJ who was seen by his anonymous source.
Justiniano, on the other hand, vehemently denied the allegations.
“Alam mo hindi ako involved diyan sa serious illegal detention. Ang involvement ko lang ay itong PDAF cases… Hindi ko kilala yan. Never pa akong nakapag-appear sa sala niya, maski nung nasa private practice pa ako,” Justiano said.
(You know, I wasn’t involved in the serious illegal detention case. My involvement is in the PDAF cases…I don’t know him (Judge Elmo Alameda). I have never appeared in his sala, even back when I was still in private practice.)
Justiniano also said DOJ has no business with cases being handled by Makati state prosecutors.
Just last week, Janet Lim Napoles was charged guilty for illegally detaining Benhur Luy in her condominium unit and rest house for three months. She is now serving her sentence at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City. (JOYCE BALANCIO / UNTV News)