Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene Almendras talked with fugitive businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, husband Jimmy and lawyerAtty. Lorna Kapunan at the President’s Hall Receiving Area of the Malacañan Palace to yield herself to President Benigno S. Aquino III Wednesday night (August 28, 2013). The surrender feeler was sent by Atty. Kapunan to Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda hours after President Aquino announced a P10-million reward to anyone who can give information for the immediate arrest of the alleged brains behind the P10-billion pork barrel scam. (Photo by: Rodolfo Manabat / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO).
MANILA—The Makati Regional Trial Court handling the serious illegal detention charge against Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged brains behind the P10-billion pork barrel scam, is expected to issue a commitment order within the day for her detention after the warrant for her arrest was returned to the court Thursday morning.
A team of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police arrived on Thursday morning to submit to Makati RTC Branch 150 Judge Elmo Alameda a copy of the return of warrant and certificate of Napoles’ detention, a procedure that would allow the court to assume jurisdiction over the accused.
Diosfa Toledanes-Valencia, the clerk of court, said that the court would most likely issue an order for the detention of Napoles in the Makati City Jail unless there are requests to hold her elsewhere.
“Since this is a Makati court, our jurisdiction is in Makati City Jail, but the accused, and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology have the right to make requests which will be evaluated by the court,” Valencia told reporters.
She said since this was a “high-profile” case, the court needs to have a solid basis to treat her as a “high-risk detainee.”
Napoles surrendered to President Aquino in Malacañang on Wednesday night, reportedly for fear of her life.
Senior Supt. Roberto Fajardo, who led the CIDG team that went to the Makati RTC, said Napoles was currently detained at Camp Crame but could not say where exactly for security reasons.
“She is in high spirits and she’s is willing to face the charges in court,” Fajardo said.
Napoles’ co-accused in the serious illegal detention charge filed at the Makati RTC, her brother Reynald Lim, remains at large.
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