Napoles as state witness? Not that simple, says lawyer

MANILA - It is not that simple to use businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles as a state witness in the alleged P10 billion pork barrel scam involving several senators and congressmen, a lawyer said on Thursday. Atty. Beda Fajardo, incoming president of the Philippine Bar Association, said the court would first have to see if there is absolute necessity for Napoles' testimony and if there is no other direct evidence besides her testimony. Fajardo also noted that willingness to testify is "not a factor" in discharging an accused to become a state witness. "It doesn't mean because she is willing to testify, she is already qualified as state witness. For all we know, her testimony is not absolutely necessary because the testimony of the whistleblowers are sufficient," he said in an interview with ANC. ANC Top Story, August 29, 2013