Press Release
November 3, 2013

OSMEÑA ASKS BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE
TO RESET NAPOLES TESTIMONY TO NOV. 18

Sen. Serge Osmeña today urged Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, to defer until November 18 the scheduled testimony of controversial businesswoman Janet Napoles at the Senate.

Osmeña said majority of the senators are out of town and will not be able to attend the November 7 (Thursday) hearing.

"I am requesting Senator TG Guingona to move the Nov. 7 hearing to Nov. 18, the day that Congress resumes. I am concerned that more than half the members of the Senate will be out of town since Congress is still on break," Osmeña said.

He added: "Senators must have the opportunity to propound questions to Mrs. Napoles. The credibility of the Senate would be enhanced by more openness and greater transparency."

The Senate Blue Ribbon committee has summoned Napoles to attend a hearing on November 7 at 10 a.m. to respond to testimonies made before the committee that she masterminded the so-called P10 billion 'pork' scam that supposedly involve a number of lawmakers both from the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Former employees of Napoles have testified that the businesswoman was allegedly behind the grand scheme that involved the funneling of billions of pesos worth of 'pork barrel' funds of senators and congressmen into the accounts of 'fake' non-government organizations (NGOs), all purportedly set-up by Napoles and her minions.

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