'3 Furies' to probe non-Napoles NGO

MANILA - Malacañang calls them the "3 Furies" based on the three deities in Greek mythology who render divine vengeance.

According to Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda, the triumvirate of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Commission on Audit chairwoman Grace Pulido Tan are focusing on the bigger picture in the P10 billion pork barrel scam that saw at least 3 sitting senators charged with plunder.

Lacierda said the Inter-Agency Anti-Graft Coordinating Council (IAAGCC), which the three officials are heading, are tracking the paper trail in the pork scam.

"There is a second batch of cases to be filed before the Ombudsman that is related to the Napoles NGOs. There is also one non-Napoles NGO that is under investigation by the IAAGCC," he said.

He said the NGO was flagged in the Commission on Audit special report on alleged misuse of pork barrel funds from 2007-2009.

The pork barrel scam, which was allegedly hatched by businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles, legislators and other government officials, involved the funneling of priority development assistance funds (PDAF) to fake NGOs set up by Napoles.

At least 38 people including Napoles and Senators Bong Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile have been charged with plunder, graft and malversation charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for their alleged involvement in the scam.

A separate set of charges were also filed against Napoles, former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and other individuals over the alleged misuse of the Malampaya funds.