Philippines presidential palace releases photos showing Benigno Aquino and Janet Lim-Napoles

Manila: The presidential palace released 24 photos showing President Benigno Aquino with Janet Lim-Napoles, identified as the alleged operator who laundered P10 billion (Dh833 million) worth of development funds of senators and congressmen into fake projects and corporations, to benefit her and her political associates.

It was part of the government’s policy on transparency, said Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang.

The 24 photos were shot during a dinner party after a mass was held for the Vatican’s canonisation of Pedro Calungsod in Cebu City, central Philippines on November 30, 2012, said the presidential palace.

Several guests also posed with the president during the event, said the palace.

The pictures of Aquino and Napoles were released after his photo with Napoles’ daughter Jeane, 23, went viral on the internet.