According to Janet Lim-Napoles’ lawyer, the alleged mastermind of the PDAF scam is willing to return the commissions she earned from the transactions, an amount which ranges from Php100m to Php200m.

In the interview of GMA News’ ’24 Oras’ on Tuesday, attorney Stephan David said that of the Php2b work of pork barrel transactions handled by Napoles, she earned 5–10% in commissions which approximately totals up to Php200m.

David said that some lawmakers still owed Napoles money she lent them in the form of cash advances from the scam and campaign funds in 2013. He said these are enough to cover for her payment. He added that Napoles has not been receiving money from lawmakers since the scam was exposed last year.

Attorney Lourdes Benipayo, who represents the whistleblowers, opposed the plan. She said that this move could be a plan hatched by Napoles’ team to finally turn her into a state witness, which could give her immunity.

Meanwhile, Malacañang announced that it will leave all decisions about Napoles’ payment to the Office of the Ombudsman. Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Junior clarified that ‘It is only the Office of the Ombudsman that is clothed with the authority to recommend to the Sandiganbayan any action on matters.’