Napoles transfer to Bicutan jail aborted

MANILA, Philippines - Lawyer Jessica “Gigi” Reyes is not the only one reduced to tears by the prospect of detention at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.

Alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles also reportedly wept on being told of her impending transfer from a bungalow at Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna to Camp Bagong Diwa.

“Yes, she did cry,” lawyer Stephen David said of his clinet after a hearing on her bail petition at the Sandiganbayan, which is handling cases of plunder against her.

Napoles was expected to be transferred last night. David said they would appeal the transfer.

He said the anti-graft court’s Third Division should reconsider its decision because Napoles is a high-risk inmate who needs protection.

David added that Napoles was ordered detained at Fort Sto. Domingo for an earlier serious illegal detention case filed with the Makati City regional trial court by pork barrel scam whistle-blower Benhur Luy.

The Sandiganbayan, in ordering Napoles’ transfer, noted that persons on trial are supposed to be placed in the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), which has jurisdiction over Camp Bagong Diwa.

The BJMP received the commitment order from the Sandiganbayan at around 5 p.m. yesterday.

Reyes, who was initially held at the Sandiganbayan basement detention cell, suffered a panic attack when moved to Camp Bagong Diwa.

Her lawyer Anacleto Diaz told the Sandiganbayan that the thought of her sharing a detention facility with female New People’s Army rebels contributed to her nervous breakdown. 

Earlier, Philippine National Police spokesman Reuben Theodore Sindac said they would have to seek legal advice on the issue of Napoles’ transfer of detention but made clear that moving her to Camp Bagong Diwa would be a great relief to the PNP in Calabarzon.

The PNP was reportedly spending some P120,000 each time Napoles was leaving Fort Sto. Domingo for court hearing or medical checkup, on top of the P150,000 for her food ration and other expenses.

Meanwhile, the Makati City RTC Branch 150 – through clerk of court Diosfa Valencia – said it would not cite the PNP for contempt if the latter carries out the Sandiganbayan order.

“The court will not object to the order of the Sandiganbayan. The PNP is just following the order of the Sandiganbayan. Any change in the place of her detention will not affect the illegal detention case,” said Valencia.

Valencia, however, stressed that the PNP and the Sandiganbayan would have to formally inform the Makati court of Napoles’ transfer for record purposes. Valencia said such notification may be made after the actual transfer.

Valencia said that as of yesterday, what the court had received was an order from Sandiganbayan for Judge Elmo Alameda to submit his comment within 10 days on the motion of government prosecutors to transfer Napoles to Camp Bagong Diwa.

But with the order from the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division for Napoles’ transfer, the order for Alameda to file comment had become moot.

The Sandiganbayan’s First, Third and Fifth Divisions are handling separate plunder cases against Napoles in connection with the pork barrel scam.

Meanwhile, Inspector Aris Villaester said Reyes remains in isolation at the BJMP female dormitory’s “livelihood room” at the dormitory’s first floor, following her return from the Philippine Heart Center last week.

The BJMP spokesperson said Reyes was too weak to be moved to her detention cell at the dormitory’s second floor. With Mike Frialde, Cecille Suerte Felipe