Pork Barrel: The Janet Napoles - Legislators' Scam

Abolish pork barrel. I support that, but I think this will happen 100 years from now, if ever. Legislators are deliberating on P2 trillion budget (this year) and nearly P2.3 trillion next year, and they have no pork barrel out of it?

Minimal Government Movement, before it became officially a think tank in 2008, issued a statement in September 2004, calling for the abolition of pork barrel, see the 5+ pages statement here.

About the current pork barrel scam involving several Congressmen and Senators, to the tune of around P10 billion, I did not follow it much. Keywords are Ms. Janet Lim-Napoles (JLN), her company JLN Corp., Sens. Bong Revilla, Jiinggoy Estrada, Gringo Honasan, Juan Ponce Enrile, others.

A friend posted in facebook a story from Mom and Pop Moments blog about this scam. It has gone viral, good. The author posted this,

… revelation of Ms. Napoles’ children’s extravagant lifestyles taken from their own personal blogs that they have neglected to discontinue in time.  (See full article and video here: Napoles’ daughter blogs about lavish lifestyle andNapoles daughter flaunts family’s wealth) This information only strengthens the possibility that the accusations against Ms. Napoles and the senators just might be true…. 

In my curiosity, I went to the website of Ms. Janet Lim Napoles’ corporation called JLN Corporation to check out whether or not her claims of legitimately earning her wealth have any grounds.  Surely, if they had this huge business capable of sustaining their lifestyle, it would reflect in their websites and will have an impact on some business news if I search it online.

Nothing.  Nada.  Zip.  Zero.

The website is a shell of a site devoid of any information.  It does not mention ANY products or specific services offered.  It’s just a hodgepodge of photos and mentions of exciting industries obviously taken online with no real indication of how they are directly involved in said industries.….

Then many comments followed. As I post this around 10 am Sunday, there are 403 comments already. What is interesting are the details given by “Anonymous”, which I am copy-pasting below. He/she seems to be an insider, although I cannot vouch for the statements. Maybe other readers here can verify or shoot down his/her comments.

There were also other “Anonymous” commenters, but they did not produce new or substantial details, only exhortation to violence like “patayin na lahat ng mga Congressmen at Senador” or “only a violent revolution against the legislators is the solution.” To me these are garbage, I do not believe in violence and I will never endorse such action.

To see the 400+ comments (and counting), just check that blog, again at

http://momandpopmoments.com/2013/07/31/janet-napoles-pork-barrel-scam-theft-from-a-nation/#comment-229

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Anonymous says:

AUGUST 1, 2013 AT 6:43 PM

Janet Lim Napoles has strong ties before with the late Emilia Boncodin, DBM Secretary. Emilia is the one that keep Janet in the loop whenever a budget or SARO is approved and to which senator or congressman.

Gringo Honasan is a dear friend of Janet’s husband, Jimmy Napoles. I was surprised when I read somewhere online when Honasan was interviewed and he said that he doesnt know the Napoles family.

During the coup in Cory’s time, Jimmy napoles was driving a tank on the way to camp crame when he’s tank was hit by a mortar.Jimmy is operating the .50 caliber machine gun and the soldier driving the tank died during the blast. Jimmy survived and was jailed along with Honasan. If you can get clear photos of Jimmy Napoles online, you will see that part of his face and his arms show burn marks.

Their wealth started to build up during the late 90′s when they engaged themselves with mayors based in zamboanga to use them as a front for a Foundation that will implement projects or deliver farm materials. With connections at COA, they were able to arrange “completed projects” without delivering anything. They established JLN group of companies sometime in 2000 and they moved to their new office from AFPOVAI to Discovery Suites on the 25th floor.

Soon enough, they were able to develop deep connections with more legislators in congress and numerous senators. What JLN Group Of Companies do and their sub-companie, Jo-Chris Trading (named after their eldest child, Jo-Christine “Neneng” Napoles) – they use their foundations as the implementing agency for the funds of congressmen or senators. You see, congressmen and senators have budget, PDAF or the “pork barrel”, but these politicians do not have direct access to their funds and they can never touch it. So what they do is the politicians will create a project (common one is “fertilizer distribution” to farmers) and will ask DBM to set the budget. Then, there will be a public bidding to be held by DAR. The outcome of the bidding is already fixed and it’s Napoles foundation wins. The fund or SARO will be released through Janet’s foundation and the congressmen/senators will ask 70% of the whole amount. So if the project is 10M, Janet will give 70% of that. Usually Janet’s nephew, John Francisco Lim is the courier of the money, they will meet at Podium or at a parking lot. The money are stored in plastic bags or paper bags.

So, whatever is left from the budget, 30% goes to Janet. They usually cash-in the cheque they get from DBM at Landbank in Greenhills and the manager there is part of Janet’s payroll. Janet also need to pay the inspectors from COA and whoever is involved in DAR.

This is their workflow. This is what they do for more than a decade. This is how the senators and congressmen make money. This is why these politicians have so much and working class filipinos almost have nothing. This is not only Janet’s fault. The greediness of the senators and congressmen are the driving point that keeps this system operating. It is also amazing that if Janet’s family and her company goes into trial, the people who will try them – judges, senators, congressmen, are also part of this. I fear for the life of Benhur and Merlina as whistleblowers. Soon enough they will die. The people of the philippines should protect them. NBI or the witness protection program cannot do anything about it. Because they are keeping the whistleblowers alive for their own use only. Once Janet give payments to the NBI and once Revilla, Honasan, Arroyo, Pichay, Ducut, Pineda, Lim, Estrada, Soto, Lapid, and almost all the congressmen who were in post for the past decade, step in – there’s nothing benhur or merlina can do. They are as good as dead by now.

Please post this on your social media and share it to the world. It is time to stop this madness and remove the pork barrel and protect benhur and merlina.

AUGUST 1, 2013 AT 8:06 PM

No, i will never talk to philippine media. local media is rubbish. we can ask noli de castro about that. and i am very sure that he too will say, “i havent heard janet napoles or met her before…” Of course, why would he tell the world that he knows janet after he earned hundrer millions of pesos through her company? We can also ask noli who lives in his villa in tagaytay highlands. Oh, i forgot, i think it’s one of his mistresses.

nevertheless, the napoles has been moving their money the past few weeks so most of their money are not in the country anymore. the people need to ask the female manager at metrobank binondo, she’s related to janet napoles brother, ronald “bullet” francisco lim. “Bullet” is also one of the incorporator’s of janet’s countless foundations. the people of the philippines should also ask the manager at landbank greenhills. Maglanque holds a post before at DOTC, and the Napoles’ made a lot of money by providing countless transactions through DOTC using numerous congressmen and senators between 2002 – 2011. Zenaida Ducut, previous congresswoman in one of the provinces in Pampangga made a killing through Janet’s company. They also have strong ties with the Ampatuans in the south and yes, they also benefited from Janet’s company. Previous PNP chiefs during the Arroyo administration also used JLN Corporation as the foundation to supply communication radios initially valued at Php5,000 only to be listed in the receipt given to COA valued at Php65,000 each.

Let’s stop and reflect, if the local media publishes these facts, do you think that the current government CAN do something? NO. even if noynoy wants to punish Janet and even if he’s the president of the country, he can only do as much because our constitution does not allow the president to tackle these crimes. because that is not included in his job description. It’s a pity that people accuse the president of doing nothing. Yes, he cannot do anything about it because our law doesnt allow him too. You want something to be done with this issue? If noynoy declares martial law and will have complete authority over these issues, yes, he can hang all the senators and congressmen. But will noynoy declare martial law? No. not because the people of the country doesnt want to – its because noynoy wont bring back the years that caused his father’s death.

The current situation in the country has reach an impasse. unless the people do something about this, we will remain right where marcos left off – corruption everywhere and escalation of poverty.

AUGUST 1, 2013 AT 10:11 PM

I saw an interview of janet, jimmy and two of their children, jo-christine and his younger brother. The interview was conducted by Korina Sanchez. I was amazed how Korina played on the set and in a very sublime manner, projected the Napoles family as a victim.

Let me explain.

Korina is married to Mar Roxas. Mar is from Iloilo and he has a cousin, Johnny Roxas. Johnny stands 6’2, fair, brown hair and brown eyes. Johnny is a good looking male and a mestizo. Johnny used to work at JLN Corp. and he used his connections through Mar when he was still “Mr. Palengke.” Johnny earned significant amount of money by closing deals and getting the SARO of some congressmen and mayors and governors with the help of Mar. But Johnny had a fallout with Janet when some some cash commissions were not equally divided to him. He was also hoping to have a Mercedes Benz as a incentive from one of his successful transactions from a congressman based in Samar, bur Janet failed to deliver the car to him. Johnny soon left the company upset. Nevertheless, Johnny left JLN with few million pesos richer, and Mar Roxas a few million above 10M richer. Johnny Roxas became visible again in the political arena when he joined the campaign camp of Fernando Poe Jr. He was always visible on TV appearances and newspaper photos sitting or standing beside or behind Poe. With this said, Mar Roxas has ties with Napoles and that explains the interview with Korina that appears to be biased with the Napoles’. And you now know the reason why.

AUGUST 2, 2013 AT 7:57 PM

This is the link of Korina Sanchez’s interview with the Napoles:

http://anc.yahoo.com/news/napoles-family–our-wealth-is-legit-040921091.html

Present in the interview are Janet “Dragon” Lim Napoles (no one calls her Janet, everybody knows her as “Jenny” or “Tita Jenny” or “Madame Jenny”, and to her extended family, she is called “DRAGON” because of her temper against her household helps and relatives in Zamboanga), Jenny’s husband, Retired Marine Major Jimmy Napoles. Their eldest child, Jo-Christine “Neneng” Napoles and James “Buchoy” Napoles.

Their faces are covered in the interview but you can see their family photo here during Jeane’s birthday party in Beverly Hills CA:
http://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/54069/hot-on-spot-who-the-hell-is-janet-lim-napoles

This is a straightforward explanation of how JLN Corporation created their wealth in the past decade:

AUGUST 2, 2013 AT 9:54 PM

People in the internet challenges me if i have proof. No i do not.

But i can tell you that there are two metal safes inside JLN Corp.’s office at 2502 Discovery Suites in ortigas. One safe is inside Jimmy Napoles’ office and the other one is in Janet’s office. Their office also have a small storage room where all previous invoices and receipts that were never use during the past few years are being kept. If you, the reader can magically teleport yourself in that room, you will definitely find all the answers to your questions.

There is also a 5-drawer filing cabinet (metal and beige in color) in front of Janet’s office door where all files of each congressman, senators, mayors, governors, secretaries, undersecretaries, are nicely filed and named. Each folder contains copies of cheques, cash vouchers, petty cash vouchers, receipts of cash advances and bank account details for each transaction.

If by any chance that this blog has reached the Napoles family, they will move these safes and drawers outside their office ASAP. They will use the utility elevators located in the back of the building to transport the cabinets and all its contents. Once they reach the carpark, they will go to carpark slot number 1 to load these things. Janet owns carpark numbers 1, 2 and 3 at Discovery Suites. It is a good thing to also ask Jun Pareno, one of the big bosses of Discovery Suites, how he helps the Napoles family all throughout these years conducting VVIP services to some congressmen and senators as part of Janet’s perks to them using the hotel services.

Going back, those drawers will be moved in binan laguna in one of their houses there and everything will be burned. This has not happened yet. And if you, the readers, do nothing, once those drawers are out of the streets, there goes your evidence. Don’t let the local san juan police raid their office because that is part of their plan – to have the police storm their office and make it appear that everything is being seized. Of course, what safer way it is than to transport the cabinets escorted by law enforcement officers only to be burned after.

Clever. Very clever Janet indeed. Was it that Jinggoy’s idea or Gringo?

(From another Anonymous)
AUGUST 2, 2013 AT 11:31 PM

I would like to contribute to this blog.

The Napoles speak fluent Chabakano.

They are rich because they do business in both sides – opposition and coalition. They started poor in the 70s – 80s selling packed lunch (similar to jolly-jeep) at the premises of AFP since Jimmy is a Marine. Officer.

I don’t have a single clue where the f*ck they get the idea that they are into the coal mining business. Janet and the female owner of AM-Europharma are BFFs. That explains their mansions in Laguna because AM-Europharma’s factory is in Laguna.

Eddie Badeo is effing naive. Everything she said is spot on and correct. But, all martyrs die in the end. There are three siblings in the Lim family, Ronald Francisco Lim, Janet Francisco Lim, Reynald “Jojo” Luy Lim. “Jojo” is a half brother and Benhur Luy is related to Reynald. That’s why they could not kill Benhur when they still have a chance. But now they all wish him dead.

Jo-Christine Napoles is a graduate from St. Benilde. Her brother, James Napoles is also from Benilde. Benhur is as guilty as Janet – they both became rich helping politicians steal from us.

….

AUGUST 3, 2013 AT 1:10 AM

Everyone wants to know the identities of the congressmen and senators and cabinet members and judges that have business relations with JLN Corp.

Simple.

There are numerous security cameras installed in Janet’s office and the recording machine is located in her room. You will see all the people that comes in and out of their office – including ALL the politicians in HD viewing.

If by any chance they have deleted it, the people of the philippines can ask Discovery Suites CCTV footage of their hotel entrance at the back of their building. Or the CCTV at the Serendipity Lounge. It is also interesting to check the CCTV footage of Landbank Ortigas and see how many times the employees of JLN come in and out in a day for the last five years. Or probably all CCTV at the banks in Greenhills (along ortigas avenue) because most probably, JLN Corp have accounts on them.

We might as well try CCTV footage at Starbucks and Dome Cafe at Podium. I am sure as hell that they will find videos there for the past 3 or more years.

But people, we better act fast because once they read this blog, those videos are good as gone.

Mr.bigas says:

AUGUST 3, 2013 AT 7:53 PM

This not related to NAPOLES but somehow the same with how politicians and government employees earn money thru use of projects and public bidding :

In PASIG CITY. you give 10% to the City Engineer and 3% to the sanggunian. Remember the Montero vehicles given to the Pasig city councilors?

How Bidding is conducted: YES there is publication and posting in PHILGEPS, but you will only win after paying the 10%. During the bidding, the city engineer will only read names of the contractors who won. In 1 minute, the bidding is finished.

Department of tourism: There is POSTING and PUBLICATION and strict reading of the bidding documents. But do you know that there is POST QUALIFICATION? this is the time that the lowest bidder will disqualified for unreasonable grounds. Then you will file an request to reconsider your bid but which will be denied without answering your queries. See http://wheninphilippines.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/department-of-tourism-bidding/

National Irrigation Administration: (one example office in Florida blanca pamapanga), psoting and publication will be conducted but teh chief engineer will talked to the bidders not to bid because there is already a taker (contractor) which was endorsed by the congressman. i remembered that there is one District engineer of DPWH of other province talked to us because the project is already given to a contractor of the said congressman. But of course since you incurred expenses, the Chief Engineer will give you money. Computation is 3% of the project then divided by the number of contractors who purchased the bid documents. He is member of the iglesia ni kristo (a jakulo of bulacan)

Senator Cayetano and Party List rep Villanueva: Yes, they actively expressing their anti corruption campaign, but the same with other politicians, they also received 30% of the project thru their staff holding the documents (kumbaga taga process); the 30% maybe lowered depending on the project like kung magpapatong lang graba sa kalye. (i give benefit on the doubt on the said officials since the contractor cannot talked directly to them.)

Fort Bonifacio Philippine Army Headquarters – the irregularity is with regard to the purchase of bid documents. They do not issue official receipt but issue temporary receipt. Computerized or print out at hahatiin nila sa harap mo ang papel para may kopya ka.

NHA- yes the Bids and awards Committee will do everything just to disqualify a contractor and award the project to their contractor.

DPWH- same. you pay mula sa secretary.

LGUs- go to philgeps, log in and attend the bidding or purchase bid documents and i assure you, you will not be allowed to purchase either because they will tell you na may taker na or nawawala ang employee. or madalas tatatakutin ka na lang na matatalo ka or pagiinitan ka at di ka makakakolekta.

BIR – yes we are computerized. but did you know that if you will be examined and you have liability like for example 2,000,000. You pay 500,000 with receipt and the 300,000 no receipt.

If you want to ask kung kumikita ba ang contractor dahil sa lagay? YES. because the SOP is already computed and included in the project.

In sum: i think the problem is with the Bids and awards committee. sana lang na basta govt employee/officer/politician ang involved death penalty na agad regardless or life or reclusion perpetua

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See also: 
Pol. Ideology 21: The Nature of Government, November 14, 2011 
Welfarism 15: Abolishing Pork Barrel, February 04, 2012