No stopping Ombudsman probe on JPE, et al

MANILA, Philippines - The Ombudsman's preliminary investigation on three senators implicated in the pork barrel scam will push through. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court junked a petition filed by former Technology Resource Center director general Antonio Ortiz to stop the Ombudsman's proceedings on the case. The High Court said Ortiz's petition lacked merit and he failed to prove grave abuse of discretion on the part of respondents. These respondents are Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and National Bureau of Investigation Assistant Director Medardo de Lemos. The NBI filed separate complaints against Senators Bong Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile, and several others, including Ortiz, last September, alleging that the lawmakers were part of a scam involving their "pork barrel," perpetrated by businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles. The lawmakers' PDAF were allegedly coursed through the TRC, in conspiracy with Ortiz, Napoles, and her alleged bogus non-government organizations. ANC HEADSTART, December 4, 2013