Prominent Philippine lawyer Lorna Kapunas has resigned as lead legal counsel for Janet Lim-Napoles in her serious illegal detention case. According to a radio report, the lawyer resigned due to “differences in opinion.”
Atty. Lorna Kapunan did not participate during the Wednesday’s bail hearing on the serious illegal detention case of the controversial Janet Lim-Napoles at the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 150.
Atty. Lorna Kapunan (Photo: PhilStar.Com)
The case against Janet Lim-Napoles was filed by PDAF whistleblower Benhur Luy. Janet Napoles is the alleged mastermind of the multi-billion peso pork barrel controversy, she is detained at the Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna.
Kapunan was instrumental in the surrender of Janet Lim-Napoles to President Benigno Aquino III on August 29, 2013 at Malacañang which coincides the day that the government announced a P10-million bounty for information leading to the arrest of the businesswoman.
Aside from the illegal detention case faced by Napoles, she is also facing plunder charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly pocketing lawmakers’ pork barrel funds that were diverted to bogus non-government organizations that she supposedly set up.
Lawyer Lorna Kapunan did not attend the hearing on Wednesday which was scheduled at aroun 9:00 AM but she proceeded to the office of presiding judge Elmo Alameda where she handed a note.
During Benhur Luy’s cross-examination by defense lawyer Atty. Alfredo Villamor, Judge Alameda stepped down from his chair and rushed to the office, the examination was cut short. When Alameda returned he had a noted which he asked to be handed to Prosecutor Christopher Garvida. The cross-examination then resumed but Garvida stood up and asked that they meet in chambers.
Judge Almeda, the prosecution lawyers and Villamor met in the judge’s chamber and they later returned to the courtroom and proceeded with the hearing without Kapunan who is the lead defense lawyer. The Makati RTC Branch 150 clerk of court told reporters that Kapunan has yet to file a formal motion informing the court that she has withdrawn from the case.
Although the Makati RTC did not make confirmation about Kapunan’s withdrawal, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima confirmed that Kapunan has quit from the high-profile case but admitted that she does not know the reason behind the move.