Court OKs Napoles transfer to Laguna

The Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) has granted the petition of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles to be transferred to another detention facility, the clerk of court said on Friday.

In a 2-page decision, Makati RTC Branch 150 Judge Elmo Alameda ordered Napoles transferred to Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Alameda said Napoles is considered a “high profile detainee” and needs a safer jail facility.

Napoles is currently detained at the Makati City Jail, but her camp claims she is not safe there.

“Ang public hatred diyan ay hindi natin ma-control because ang dami nang galit sa kanya, hindi natin alam saan manggagaling ‘yan,” said one of Napoles’ lawyers, Atty. Lorna Kapunan.

The warden of the Makati City Jail, Chief Inspector Fermin Enriquez, also recommended that Napoles be transferred to another facility due to threats to her life.

Enriquez said he cannot personally guarantee the safety of Napoles.

He said there are only 6 female guards performing custodial duties for 104 female inmates, including Napoles.

He added that only 65 personnel are guarding the 545 male and female inmates at the Makati jail.

The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation Detection Group recommended to the court that Napoles be transferred to Fort Sto. Domingo, a training and seminar facility of the PNP Special Action Force.

“According to [the recommendation], ang facility daw doon ay mas OK. May enough security personnel compared to Makati City Jail na ‘yung ratio of inmates to security personnel is hindi talaga tama,” Clerk of Court Atty. Jospha Valencia said.

Among those who were previously detained at the Laguna facility were former President Joseph Estrada; Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Gringo Honasan; and Moro National Liberation Front leader Nur Misuari.

The facility has 2 air-conditioned bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, lounge area, television and VCD player, dining area, and kitchen area with range and oven toaster.

When Estrada was detained in Fort Sto. Domingo for plunder charges in 2001, then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was criticized for allegedly giving “special treatment” to Estrada. But then PNP chief Leandro Mendoza defended the Arroyo administration, saying Estrada as a former head of state should be allowed to keep his dignity.

Napoles and her brother, Reynald Lim, are facing charges of serious illegal detention of whistleblowers Benhur Luy. Lim is still at large.

Napoles is tagged as the mastermind of the alleged P10 billion pork barrel scam. -- Reports from Dexter Ganibe, dzMM; Ryan Chua, ABS-CBN News

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Whistleblowers won't object to Napoles hospital arrest

MANILA -- Levito Baligod, lawyer of the whistleblowers in the alleged P10 billion pork barrel scam, on Friday said they will not object to a hospital arrest for businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles.

Napoles, who surrendered to President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday night, was transferred to the Makati City Jail from Camp Crame late Thursday evening.

Baligod said they will not object if ever Napoles asks that she be put under hospital arrest.

But he said a government doctor should be the one to conduct a medical check-up on the businesswoman, who is allegedly diabetic according to her lawyer.

"Kailangan patunayan ng isang doktor na yung diabetes niya ay isang rason para hindi siya ma-detain sa Makati City Jail," Baligod told radio dzMM Friday morning.

"Kung merong sapat na basehan...eh hindi po tayo kokontra diyan."

"Meron pa rin po siyang karapatan na kailangan nating i-respeto. So kung yung sakit po niya ay sapat na basehan para manatili muna siya sa isang ospital ay hindi po namin kokontrahin," he added.

Meanwhile, Napoles' lawyer, Lorna Kapunan, said her client is not keen on asking that she be put under hospital arrest, noting that she does not want to be perceived as receiving special treatment from the government.

"Yung condition po niya nag-palpitate siya at meron siyang diabetes kaya lang talagang ayaw namin na mag-pa-hospital arrest kasi ayaw namin na sabihin na meron syang preferential treatment," Kapunan said.

Napoles is currently detained in an air-conditioned room at the Makati City Jail, where she will be watched by two female guards at all times.

Napoles' detention room was furnished with a couch and a desk. An air bed was also brought by her family.

Kapunan said her client is already contented with her condition inside the jail.

"We're not complaining about the comfort. We are very happy about the security arrangement, 'yun lang. 'Yung discomfort niya ay part of surrendering. Hindi naman kami makakapili kung saan siya ide-detain basta assured kami at maraming nagbabantay diyan sa loob. Comfort is the least of our worries," she said.

Napoles and her brother Reynald Lim, who is still at large, are facing charges for serious illegal detention of pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy.

A case has yet to be filed against Napoles involving the alleged misuse of the pork barrel funds. The government, through the Inter-Agency Anti-Graft Coordinating Council (IAGCC), has launched a probe into the scam.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com