Napoles transferred to small, air-conditioned detention room

MANILA, Philippines - The government transferred alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles to a small, but air-conditioned room inside the Makati City Jail, late Thursday.

Napoles' convoy left the Philippine National Police national headquarters, Camp Crame, past 11 p.m. and arrived at the Makati City Jail around 11:20 p.m. where she underwent a medical check-up.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas said in an interview with reporters that Napoles was placed in a small office inside the city jail, which will be her temporary detention room.

Roxas said that the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam mastermind was excluded from the 103 female detainees of the city jail. The detention facility also has more than 400 male detainees, he added.

"Small, may lumang sofa, white na sahig, air-conditioned at basically isang desk," the interior secretary said, describing Napoles' detention room to reporters.

He said that the beleguered businesswoman's lawyer Lorna Kapunan and husband, Jimmy Napoles and a doctor will stay with her inside the detention room.

"Kapag settled down na, palagay ko aalis na sila," he said, citing concerns on Napoles' health because she is a diabetic.

24/7 security

Roxas said that as part of the government's promise to secure Napoles, two female guards will stay with Napoles inside the detention room.

He said that more guards outside and around the detention and the entire facility have been assigned to Napoles, but he declined to elaborate on the security team member's positions.

"Tuloy ang concern sa kanyang security. Ang importante dito ay ang kanyang mga nalalaman at mga isisiwalat na ebidensya ay napi-preserve natin," Roxas said.

PNP chief Director-General Alan Purisima said that they are making sure that they have a visual confirmation that Napoles and safe and inside the detention room 24 hours a day.

Malacañang had said that Napoles is very concerned with her security, which is the main reason for her voluntary surrender.

Roxas said that Napoles' lawyers will be given full access to the detention room, but her family would have to abide by the visiting rules of the detention facility.

He said that during weekdays, the visiting hours at the city jail are between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. and during weekends visitors are allowed from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

However, the official said that Napoles will not be allowed to have a cellular phone or any communication device inside the detention room. He added that the lawyers can only use cellular phones outside the room.

Hunt still on for brother

Meanwhile, Purisima said that the hunt for Napoles' brother, Reynald "Jojo" Lim, continues. He added that tracker teams have been dispatched to look for Lim.

Napoles and her brother were ordered arrested by the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 150 based on the serious illegal detention case filed against them by their former employer and pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy.

The government is offering P5 million in exchange for information that would lead to the arrest of Lim.

The P10-million reward earlier issued for the arrest of Napoles has been withdrawn by the government.Jojo Lim, based on the serious illegal detention case filed by pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy.