The war of the "porkers' list"---de lima's, Lacson's and Camcam's

Such foolish people.

After telling everyone that she has a supposed list of personalities whom Janet Lim-Napoles fingered as her casting crew in this monumental pork barrel saga, Justice secretary Leila de Lima is now saying that she will not reveal the names in the list afterall.

This is also what ex-senator now rehab czar now priest confessor Panfilo "Ping" Lacson is also saying. After asking reporters for an interview and revealed that he too has a list given to him by Jimmy, the husband of the pork barrel scam architect, Lacson is now saying that, like de Lima, he is not about to reveal the juicy details and even re-directed the press' inquiries to Janet Lim-Napoles herself.

The Daily Tribune published the controversial "list" that prompted several Senators to come forward and express their "innocence", their "dismay" and their "fears that this is just a psywar launched by those most guilty---the trio of Enrile, Estrada and Revilla." Senators Drilon, Escudero, Santiago, Trillianes IV and Cayetano were all in denial.

Now comes Sandra Camcam claiming that she too has a list given to her by a Napoles' relative. In an emotional interview with Gerry Baja over at DZMM-Teleradyo late afternoon, Camcam said that the list contains the names of Senators and "a hundred Congressmen." She then threatened De Lima that she will reveal the names herself even at the risk of prosecution if the Justice secretary does not reveal her list and if Camcam and her group feel that the de Lima list has been "sanitized".

So there. After listening to hours and hours of testimonies coming from the whistleblowers or those whom Napoles herself ordered to do the dirty work of processing all those documents. After pouring over voluminous documents of the Commission on Audit (COA) attesting the occurrence of irregularities in the disposal of PDAF and even of the Malampaya funds, and after the Supreme Court declaring that yes, the pdaf has been tampered with and another scheme is being considered now by the Lower House, we then reach the high point of this overstretched pork barrel tele-drama by relying on a list purportedly written by the very architect of the scam herself, Janet Lim-Napoles.

Meaning, after the Ombudsman has been convinced of the guilt of those initially fingered by the DOJ, now comes this chapter asking us to believe what self-confessed perjurer Janet Lim-Napoles will confess. After undergoing a supposed life threatening operation, Napoles is now willing to "tell all, bare all".

The disturbing thing about all of these is the fact that the DOJ and the Senate Blue Ribbon have both ended their inquiries and here comes the Justice secretary herself trying to convince us to re-consider what Napoles wants to reveal---the true list of those involved in the scam.

What is the value of this list? For those condemned, this serves as a tool to obfuscate the issue. Who would want to be the fall guys or the "it" guys in this drama?

There are some who believe that these three--Enrile, Estrada and Revilla--have been appointed "fall guys" by the Powers-that-be. And it is a convenient excuse, especially to those who really benefitted much from this scheme.

Enrile is eighty-ish---and he can avoid jail-time. Jinggoy is confident that he will eventually escape prosecution,  just like what happened to him several years ago, while Revilla is relying on the tactics of his lawyer, Joel Bodegon for him to escape prosecution. Among those who were really involved, these three are not exactly looking at a bright political future--theirs have already been destroyed by this scandal. There is nothing to hope for for them.

This scandal is like the game of tag. Unfortunately, the ones tagged are the ones at the receiving end of a raw deal. Of course, all of them do not want to fall without dragging others with them.

The problem of this scam is the perception that this is just what we call "selective prosecution." Meaning, out of the initial 100 plus legislators whom de Lima initially and publicly declared as "probably guilty" or "probable accomplices" of Napoles, several or some were stricken off the list. This is evident in the first two batches of names given to the Ombudsman for prosecution.

I don't know if you remember but the Inquirer has their own list long before Napoles decided to make a list of her own to use as her "bait" so that she gets absolved from all these and get what she really wants--the status of being a "state witness." All the Inquirer has to do is re-publish that list.

Malacanan has been saying all along---prosecute those who were really involved in this scandal. The thing is---there are speculations that de Lima is being pressured by some high-ranking Cabinet officials not to reveal the list and just allow them a graceful exit.

I heard from a reliable source that one of the original members of Pnoy's campaign team and that of Mar's was really involved in this pork barrel scandal. He has been asked to tender his resignation to avoid humiliation. However, he is still finishing "his work" at this "agency" which serves as the hub of activity and is central to Napoles' operation. There is sufficient proof of this person's complicity in the Malampaya funds scam, which is worth 800 million pesos.

I remember this former DBM secretary who cried and left the agency after her name was dragged into a controversy. She is dead now and the secrets of her agency involvement are not buried with her.  What many does not know that one of her relatives has a sort of "confession" record which narrates how dirty things are in that agency.

So now, we go back to our initial question---what is the value of this list when at the very onset, the list of names have already been published by the Inquirer?

If this list has been published already, then, why is it that De Lima and other administration officials want another so-called list from Napoles published? The NBI has concluded its probe. So did the Blue ribbon. What is then the use of this list?

Three things, I believe. First, this list serves as a threat to legislators who will oppose the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic law which is the pet project of President Pnoy or at this executive order establishing the right of the Americans to re-occupy their former military bases. Lacson gave us a hint when he said that the list of senators constitute a "quorum". That's a veiled message that the palace has this "list" that they will probably use should any of these senators oppose or disagree with what Pnoy wants.

Second, this list aims to create enough controversy to bury the US$30 million extort attempt made by several dotc officials. That controversy is heating up and is leading to a couple close to Pnoy. Reviving the pork issue helps in obscuring this issue.

Third, this pork barrel issue is a convenient cover-up to other anomalies now being undertaken by several close in associates of the President and this involves the PPP contracts.