PNP ready to readmit Napoles if court orders it–Purisima
PNP Director General Alan Purisima INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police said Friday it was ready to readmit Janet Lim-Napoles into the custodial center of the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame in Quezon City if the court orders it.
PNP Chief Alan Purisima made the statement in a radio interview following reports that Makati regional trial court Branch 150 is set to hear the motion on voluntary inhibition of its Judge Elmo Alameda, and the motion for reconsideration of the court’s commitment order to put her under the custody of the Makati City Jail.
“We are hoping that there is a decision within the day that we can implement. We at the PNP and DILG [Department of Interior and Local Government] will abide by the court’s decision,” said Purisima.
If Napoles will be brought back to Camp Crame, Purisima said the PNP was ready and would prepare a place for her.
When Napoles surrendered to President Benigno Aquino III Wednesday evening and was transported to Camp Crame for booking, she was made to stay for the night at a “vacant room” inside the NHQ building where the offices of the PNP chief and the DILG secretary were also located.
When the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group returned the arrest warrant to the court, signifying that she has been taken into custody, Makati RTC Branch 150 subsequently released a commitment order to be put under the custody of the Makati City Jail.
After Napoles was transferred to Makati, Roxas told reporters that she was in an airconditioned room that had a bed, sofa and a desk.
Roxas repeatedly said they wanted to ensure the safety of Napoles so that she would be able to face charges filed against her.
The petition filed by Napoles’ camp requested her transfer to “safer” jail facilities such as those in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City or Camp Crame.
Napoles has been tagged as the alleged mastermind behind the P10 billion “pork barrel” scam involving the supposed misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or “pork” by legislators who allegedly channelled the money to bogus nongovernment organizations.
She and her brother, Ronald Lim, however, are facing illegal detention charges for the abduction of Benhur Luy, an employee of their company, Janet Lim-Napoles Corp., and cousin, who blew the whistle on the scam. Luy has since turned state witness.
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