Janet Lim Napoles arrives at the Senate for the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the alleged P10 billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam, which reportedly involves her group and several legislators. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) — Malacañang on Saturday voiced hopes the court issue that delayed the transfer of businesswoman Janet Napoles from Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology detention facility in Taguig City will be cleared soon.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte noted Napoles’ transfer would benefit the Philippine National Police as her detention in Laguna is a big drain on police resources.
“Sana ma-clarify ng Makati court. Hopefully it will be reconciled already dahil mukhang mas pabor sa PNP ang Camp Bagong Diwa dahil mas kaunti ang mababawas sa resources ng PNP,” Valte said on government-run dzRB radio.
But in the meantime, she pointed out the PNP will continue to follow the court’s orders. “Ang PNP sumusunod lang sa atas ng korte,” she said.
On Friday night, the transfer of Napoles to the BJMP facility was deferred, with PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac saying they want to clarify legal issues first.
Once they get the clarification, he said they are ready to turn Napoles over to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.
Sindac said they expect to get the clarification on Monday. Until then, he said Napoles will stay at Fort Sto. Domingo.
Earlier Friday, Napoles was brought back to Fort Sto. Domingo from the Sandiganbayan. The trip took one-and-a-half hours due to tight traffic in Metro Manila.
Napoles faces charges of graft and plunder and is tagged as the brains of the alleged scam, where she is accused of setting up fake NGOs to receive Priority Development Assistance Fund allocations of some lawmakers.
Also detained at the BJMP facility is lawyer Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes, another personality facing charges for the alleged multibillion-peso scam.
Earlier, BJMP-Nationa Capital Region spokesperson Inspector Aris Villaester told radio dzBB that permission from the Makati Regional Trial Court was necessary as the BJMP might be cited for contempt for the unauthorized transfer of Napoles. (MNS)