Napoles won’t be moved yet to Laguna—Roxas

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas. PHOTO BY RICHARD A. REYES/INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines – Janet Lim-Napoles will not be transferred yet to Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna Saturday, Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II said.

Roxas told reporters that the 25 square meter facility was still being prepared.

He said metal bars would be placed in all the windows and security cameras would be installed.

Napoles will not be allowed to bring in and use communication devices such as cellphones and laptops, as well as radio and television.

Apart from electric fan, the only appliance inside the facility is a refrigerator where Napoles can store her medicines, Roxas said.

Moreover, only family members, her doctor and lawyer, will be allowed to visit her.

“They will also need to leave their cellphones outside when they visit Napoles,” Roxas said, noting that there will be a log book for the visitors for monitoring purposes. The visiting hours will be from 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Additional security will also be deployed to guard Napoles. The two female guards inside Napoles’ detention cell at the Makati City Jail will still be used for “visual contact.”

While authorities have yet to determine whether Napoles was being threatened, Roxas said:
“It’s better to be sure. They can’t out one over us. She should stay alive regardless of whether she provides us with information about what she knows or not.”

Roxas, however, didn’t say when the transfer would be made for “security purposes.”

Napoles is the alleged mastermind behind the alleged misuse of P10 billion in Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or “pork barrel” of legislators.

Related Stories:

Court orders transfer of Napoles to police camp in Laguna

Janet Napoles and the Pork barrel scam