Janet Lim-Napoles

Janet Lim-Napoles (born Janet Luy Lim; January 15, 1964) is a Filipino businesswoman who is believed to have masterminded the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) Scam. She was convicted of plunder for her involvement in the PDAF Scam and is facing charges for alleged involvement in the misuse of the Malampaya fund for disaster response operations.

Early life Janet Luy Lim was born in Malabon, then a municipality of Rizal. She is the fourth of five children of a Chinese Filipino couple: Johnny Co Lim (born Lim King Sing) and Magdalena "Nelly" Lim Luy. (Mely Francisco Luy on Janet Lim-Napoles' birth certificate.)

Napoles has been linked with an alleged misuse of PDAF, together with Philippine Senators Bong Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile, and other congressmen.

She was convicted of plunder on December 7, 2018, for her involvement in the PDAF scam, with the conviction being upheld by the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court on March 13, 2019.

In 2021, the Sandiganbayan convicted Napoles on three counts of graft and three counts of malversation, along with Cagayan de Oro Rep. Constantino Jaraula and three others, in connection with the pork barrel scam. Napoles was sentenced to 6 to 10 years imprisonment for each count of graft and 12 to 18 years for each count of malversation. Napoles stole government funds through the state-owned Technology and Livelihood Resource Center and the nongovernmental organization Countrywide Agri and Rural Economic Development Foundation.

In October 2023, Napoles was convicted by the Sandiganbayan of 9 counts of corruption of a public official while former APEC party-list Rep. Edgar Valdez was convicted of 9 counts of direct bribery.

Also in October 2023, the Sandiganbayan convicted Napoles of 4 counts of graft and 4 counts of malversation of public funds, in connection with the PDAF of former South Cotabato Rep. Arthur Pingoy Jr.

In 2026, she has been convicted again (along with other former government staff of the Department of Agrarian Reform) on separate cases but of similar nature, being penalized further at least 64 years of imprisonment (on top of what were handed previously).

Illegal detention case Napoles was accused of illegally detaining Benhur Luy, her cousin and former employee in 2014. Luy's three-month custody under Napoles ended in March 2014. Napoles alleged that Luy took a ₱5.5 million loan under her name without her authorization. She also alleged that Luy was supposed to deposit ₱300,000 into her account but did not do so, accusing Luy of theft. Luy insists that he was detained by Napoles due to fears that he would expose Napoles's alleged significant role in the PDAF scam. Lim was later found guilty beyond reasonable doubt and was sentenced to reclusión perpetua on April 14, 2015. Napoles and her lawyers have indicated that they will appeal the decision to the Court of Appeals.

2017 motion to acquit

The Office of the Solicitor General with the court of appeals filed a "manifestation in lieu of rejoinder" recommending the acquittal of Janet Lim Napoles in the Luy detention case. This motion by the Solicitor General Jose Calida was backed by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who said that he himself would move for the dismissal of the case citing selective prosecution under Aquino administration. The criminal actions must proceed against all responsible according to Duterte.

Fertilizer fund scam Napoles and six others were indicted in 2018 for their involvement in the Fertilizer Fund scam. The group was indicted for graft and malversation of public funds over PHP5 million worth of projects, including the anomalous purchase of fertilizers in 2004 in Surigao del Norte. Fertilizer funds totaling ₱728 million were allegedly diverted in a vote-buying scheme involving favored local officials.

Malampaya fund scam Napoles is facing charges for her alleged involvement in the Malampaya fund scam. The case involves the misuse of ₱900 million sourced from the fund for disaster response operations in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Ondoy (Ketsana) and Typhoon Pepeng (Parma) in 2009. The amount did not go to the communities affected by the disasters, but was allegedly plundered after being released to nongovernmental organizations linked to Napoles.

Napoles was charged for plunder by the National Bureau of Investigation before the Ombudsman in October 2013, along with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya, former executive secretary Eduardo Ermita, former agrarian reform secretary Nasser Pangandaman.

Napoles and Andaya were charged in 2019 before the Sandiganbayan for allegedly violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Personal life Janet Napoles's husband was a major in the Philippine Marine Corps who participated in the God Save the Queen coup attempt against President Corazón Aquino.

Jo Christine and James Christopher were charged with graft related to the pork barrel scam and the Malampaya fund scam. Janet Napoles, children Jo Christine, James Cristopher, and Jean Catherine, her brother Reynald Luy Lim, and his wife Ana Marie were indicted by a U.S. court for domestic and international money laundering.

There are conflicting accounts as to the net worth of the Napoles family. While Napoles has described her family as middle class, On April 1, 2014, she underwent a series of tests, including electrocardiography (ECG), two-dimensional echocardiogram (2D-echo) and an X-ray. The following day, she underwent a blood test, and a week later underwent an endometrial biopsy examination despite her high blood sugar levels.