ALLEGED pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles was a “minimal player” in the multi-billion plunder of state coffers and could thus be tapped as state witness, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday. Duterte made the statement after Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre 2nd said Napoles, who has been acquitted of a serious illegal detention charge involving scam whistleblower Benhur Luy, could be a credible key witness. But Luy’s former counsel, Levito Baligod, believes Napoles will be a weak state witness, considering her inconsistent public statements. He denied claims that he and Napoles have reached a “sweetheart deal” because of her acquittal in the Luy detention case. On Monday, the Court of Appeals found “reasonable doubt” to acquit Napoles for the crime of serious illegal detention.

Source: Manila Times May 10, 2017 16:18 UTC