Napoles back in Laguna detention after checkup due to abdominal pain

 News
Mar 212014
 
Alleged pork barrel mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles was brought back to her detention cell at Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna after attending a court hearing and undergoing a checkup at Ospital ng Makati due to abdominal pain.

A staff of the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 said Napoles left OsMak past 3 in the afternoon.

“Pinaverify ni Judge (Elmo Alameda), kaaalis lang daw sa OsMak ni Napoles mga 15 minutes ago,” a staff told GMA News Online over the phone.

Napoles was brought to the hospital around noon after attending the hearing on her motion to undergo medical surgery and confinement at St. Luke’s Medical Center-Global.  

During the hearing, Napoles personally appealed to the court to allow her to have an operation in a hospital of her choice with a doctor also of her choice.

But Judge Alameda said Napoles should remember that she cannot exercise her civil and political rights in full because she is a detained person.

The court is expected to issue its resolution on the motion next week and if granted, the surgery will most likely be conducted at Ospital ng Makati.

Napoles is currently detained in Laguna for a serious illegal detention case.

She is also facing plunder charges at the Ombudsman for allegedly masterminding a P10-billion pork barrel scam. Through her non-government organizations, Napoles is accused of funneling lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund, commonly known as pork barrel, to ghost projects. — RSJ, GMA News

Napoles’ ultrasound bill not P130,000 – PNP

 Entertainment
Mar 042014
 
Napoles’ ultrasound bill not P130,000 – PNP

A doctor checks the condition of businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles at the PNP General Hospital in Camp Crame on Wednesday, February 26. Napoles, alleged mastermind in the P10-B pork barrel scam, has been diagnosed to have ovarian cyst.(MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – The Philippine National Police did not spend P130,000 to rent an ultrasound machine for the medical check-up of alleged pork scam architect Janet Lim Napoles. Police chief Supt. Alejandro Advincula, director of the PNP Health Service, confirmed that the national police rented an ultrasound machine for Napoles but said the rent was only P5,000. He said he has receipts to prove that the PNP did not spend P130,000 for Napoles’ ultrasound. He said the OB Gyne Department recommended that the PNP rent the machine. A junior officer at the PNP Health Services earlier told ABS-CBN News that police spent P130,00 to rent the ultrasound machine for Napoles’ transvaginal procedure. The amount is separate from the P120,000 spent just for the security and travel of Napoles to and from FortSto. Domingo in Laguna and CampCrame for her medical examination. The ultrasound machine was allegedly rented from the Health Avenue Clinic near CampCrame. Napoles, a central figure in the pork barrel scam, had asked the court to allow her to undergo medical tests and check-up at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City because these procedures cannot be done at Fort Sto. Domingo. She also asked that the court allow her to undergo hospital arrest if her medical condition merits Read More …

Palace defends expenses in Napoles’ check-up

 Entertainment
Feb 282014
 
Palace defends expenses in Napoles’ check-up

A doctor checks the condition of businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles at the PNP General Hospital in Camp Crame on Wednesday, February 26. Napoles, alleged mastermind in the P10-B pork barrel scam, has been diagnosed to have ovarian cyst.(MNS photo) MANILA, Feb 26 (Mabuhay) – Malacanang defended the government’s expenses whenever alleged pork scam queen Janet Napoles travels to Manila. The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it spends roughly P120,000 every time Napoles leaves her detention cell in Laguna to attend to a business here. On Wednesday, Napoles had her check-up at the PNP-General Hospital. “Kailangang gampanan ng PNP ang ‘custodial duty’ bilang pagsunod sa utos ng hukuman,” Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said. Today, Napoles was again escorted by the Special Action Force to the hospital in Camp Crame. She is considered a “high-risk detainee”. Napoles, a central figure in the P10 billion pork barrel scam, is facing plunder charges before the Office of the Ombudsman. She is detained at the Special Action Forces (SAF) facility in Fort Sto. Domingo for a separate charge of serious illegal detention filed by her former aide, pork barrel scam whistle-blower Benhur Luy.(MNS)

Court allows Napoles to undergo medical checkup

 News
Feb 242014
 
Court allows Napoles to undergo medical checkup

Detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind in the P10-billion pork barrel scam, will undergo transvaginal ultrasound and other medical tests on Wednesday, February 26, a Makati court said Monday. Judge Elmo Alameda of Makati Regional Trial Court branch 150 allowed Napoles’ request for a comprehensive medical examination to check a cyst on her ovary. The judge ordered the Philippine National Police regional office 4-A, which has custody over Napoles, to transfer her from her detention cell in Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna to Camp Crame General Hospital Quezon City. Napoles earlier requested the court that she undergo a comprehensive gynecological test, a transvaginal ultrasound examination, a comprehensive medical checkup, as well as to be admitted to a reputable hospital. She initially wanted to have the checkup at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City, but her lawyer and the government prosecutors agreed during the hearing on Monday to have it at Camp Crame hospital. Napoles has been in detention since August last year over a serious illegal detention case filed by her former employee Benhur Luy, a whistleblower in the pork barrel scam case. She is also facing plunder complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the scam and the alleged misuse of Malampaya funds. In their motion filed last week, Napoles’ counsel Fay Isaguirre Singson said her client has ovarian tumor. She said Napoles has been experiencing profuse bleeding since October, hypoglycemia, weight loss, chest pain and abdominal pain. “Accused humbly begs the kindness and Read More …

De Lima hopes Napoles appearance in Senate won’t affect plunder complaint

 Entertainment
Oct 222013
 
De Lima hopes Napoles appearance in Senate won’t affect plunder complaint

Blue Ribbon Committee chair, Sen. Teofisto Guingona III and Justice Secretary Leila De Lima reconcile after Guingona earlier admits being “disappointed” for not bringing whistle blowers during the pork barrel scam probe at the Senate on Tuesday (Sept. 24, 2013). Both parties shake hands after. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Thursday expressed hope that the appearance of Janet Lim-Napoles will not have any adverse effect on the plunder complaints the controversial businesswoman is facing before the Office of the Ombudsman. “Sana nga anything that is done or that will transpire or happen in that proceeding na andyan si Mrs. Napoles ay hindi makakaapekto sa Ombudsman cases. Hindi makaapekto sa aming complainants at sa takbo ng kaso,” De Lima told reporters, adding that it will all depend on what Napoles discloses in the probe. But she believed that Napoles would just invoke her rights during the hearing being conducted by the Senate blue ribbon committee. “Depende kung me sasabihin siya kasi very possible na mag-iinvoke lang siya ng mga rights like right to remain silent, right against self incrimination. I wouldn’t really know, depende yan kung ano ang kalalabasan,” De Lima said. During a privilege speech Wednesday, Senate President Franklin Drilon said he has signed the subpoena requiring Napoles to attend the Senate probe on the alleged pork barrel scam. The move preempted a Senate caucus where senators are supposed to decide on whether or not to summon Napoles to the investigation. For her part, Read More …

COA: DSWD has P854M unliquidated ‘pork’ funds

 News
Oct 192013
 
COA: DSWD has P854M unliquidated ‘pork’ funds

The Department of Social Welfare and Development has not yet liquidated pork barrel funds amounting to P854.4 million that was released through it for programs of various non-government organizations,  according to the Commission on Audit report. In a COA report released Friday, state auditors disclosed total fund releases to NGOs from 2006 and prior years and until December 31, 2012, amounted to P1.042 billion, of which 83 percent or P872.611 million has remained unliquidated. A detailed breakdown attached to the audit report showed at least half of the unliquidated amount was disbursed between 2010 and 2012. Of the total P1.042 billion, P854.4 million was from lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocations, commonly called “pork barrel.” NGO beneficiaries were supposed to liquidate cash allotments through submission of “Fund Utilization Reports (FURs),” a requirement most of them simply ignored, and that the DSWD had been lax about monitoring compliance, the COA report said. “Insufficient efforts to monitor project implementation and failure to enforce the immediate liquidation of fund transfers… resulted in minimal settlement on funds transferred to various NGOs and/or POs [people’s organizations],” it added. Moreover, it said, “We recommend that management send demand letters to NGOs/POs with outstanding obligation and monitor continuously its settlement.” State auditors have recommended that DSWD stop granting additional funds to NGOs with unliquidated balances. Likewise, it suggested to “impose sanctions against NGOs/POs found remiss in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities.” The PDAF has become controversial since the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam surfaced Read More …

PNP: Venue ready if Senate decides to grill Napoles in Laguna

 News
Oct 192013
 
PNP: Venue ready if Senate decides to grill Napoles in Laguna

A structure is available to serve as a venue for the Senate to grill suspected pork barrel scam brains Janet Lim-Napoles – if the Senate decides to hold the hearing at the fort where she is detained. Philippine National Police spokesman Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac said the structure is near Napoles’ detention facility inside Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna, radio dzBB reported Saturday. Sindac said the structure can be spruced up to serve as an inquiry room for senators investigating the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam. The Senate blue ribbon committee is looking into Napoles’ role in the scam, where she is accused of setting up fake non-government organizations to siphon the Priority Development Assistance Fund of some lawmakers. Napoles and some lawmakers have since been charged with plunder for the pork barrel scam mess. Earlier this month, Senate President Franklin Drilon said he will sign a subpoena for Napoles to appear before the Senate blue ribbon committee’s inquiry. However, security remains a concern for Napoles. Authorities had invoked security in transferring her to Fort Sto. Domingo last September 1. The pork barrel mess has elicited outrage from the public, and triggered several gatherings calling for the abolition of the pork barrel system. — LBG, GMA News

Napoles lawyer wants whistleblowers included in plunder case

 News
Oct 142013
 
Napoles lawyer wants whistleblowers included in plunder case

The lawyer of embattled businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles on Monday said the whistleblowers in the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam should be included in the plunder case. Lawyer Lorna Kapunan said those testifying against Napoles, who is facing plunder charges in connection with the supposed scam, should be included in the case before they can be turned into state witnesses. “You cannot be dropped from the case if you are not included as a respondent,” she told reporters before the start of the hearing on Napoles’ bail petition at the Makati Regional Trial Court. Napoles is currently detained at Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna over a serious illegal detention case involving the pork barrel scam’s whistleblower Benhur Luy. Kapunan said neither the National Bureau of Investigation nor the Department of Justice can remove a suspect in the charge sheet. She said only the court — in this case the Sandiganbayan — can make such a decision. Kapunan also noted that non-inclusion in the charges gives the whistleblowers an “unbridled license to say anything.” “Every day meron silang mga statement. Pag hindi sila included sa kasong plunder, walang sworn statement yan, they cannot be held liable for perjury,” she said, adding that the statements from the whistleblowers are unfair to her client. Among the whistleblowers against Napoles are Luy, Merlina Suñas and Marina Sula, all former employees of her JLN Corp. Kapunan said they will be presenting three witnesses for Napoles’ bail petition but did not identify them. The defense panel is Read More …

Erap recalls having met Napoles before

 News
Sep 062013
 
Erap recalls having met Napoles before

Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada admitted Friday that he was acquainted with Janet Lim Napoles, the detained businesswoman tagged as the mastermind of the P10 billion pork barrel scam. In a report aired on GMA News’  “24 Oras,” newscast, the former president said that although he had encountered Napoles in a number of social gatherings, he does not know her personally. “Na-meet ko siya sa isang party. Hindi ko nga nakausap eh. Baka nag-hi at hello kami, pero yun lang,” he said. Estrada also confirmed that Cheryl Jimenea and Ruby Tuason, the women named by two new whistleblowers as having ties with Napoles, were his former employees. Jimenea worked as his former appointments secretary while Tuason was his social secretary. The new whistleblowers, who came forward this week, said in an affidavit submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that they had met with Jimenea and Tuason in the past to make transactions on behalf of Napoles. Estrada said that he has not communicated with either of the two women since they resigned from work. “Ang alam ko [si Jimenea] pumasok sandali kay Jinggoy pagkaalis sa akin pero hindi rin siya nagtagal doon at umalis din. Pero si Ms. Tuason, hindi ko na nabalitaan kung kanino siya napunta. Syempre kapag may umalis akong empleyado, papasok sila sa ibang trabaho. Hindi ko na inaalam kung saan sila namamasukan,” Estrada said. Jinggoy Estrada, the former president’s son, is one of the five senators identified by the Commission on Audit as those Read More …

No sign yet of Napoles' brother trying to leave PHL — Immigration official

 News
Aug 312013
 
No sign yet of Napoles' brother trying to leave PHL — Immigration official

The brother of suspected pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles may still be in the country as there is no sign he tried to flee via the country’s international airports, immigration official said. Bureau of Immigration Ninoy Aquino International Airport intelligence division chief Wilson Soluren said they had not monitored any attempt by Reynald Lim to leave via the airports, state-run Philippines News Agency reported. “So far wala pa kaming monitored attempt niya to exit the country ever since na nag-issue ng warrant of arrest laban sa kanila (So far we have not monitored any attempt by him to exit the country since a warrant was issued for his arrest),” Soluren said. “We believe Mr. Lim is still in the country and hopefully sumuko na rin siya (he will surrender) just like what her sister did,” he added. He said that if Lim is seen at the airports, the BI will arrest him and turn him over to the police or the National Bureau of Investigation. Earlier this month, the Makati City regional trial court issued an arrest warrant against Napoles and Lim for serious illegal detention. Napoles surrendered to President Benigno Aquino III in Malacañang last Wednesday and was initially brought to Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame. She was then brought to the Makati City Jail, even as the Makati court approved her transfer to Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna province. Napoles allegedly set up ghost non-government organizations that received funds from lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund. Read More …

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