VACC holds vigil outside Makati City Jail

A jail guard fixes the CCTV camera in front of the main gate of Makati City Jail in Makati City. ARNOLD ALMACEN / INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines – The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption has vowed to hold vigil outside the Makati City Jail until Janet Lim-Napoles is transferred to Fort Santo Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

The group, whose members have positioned themselves outside the jail gates since Saturday morning, have already set up a tent, and have pinned up  posters on the sides of the jail gate.

Throughout the day, 10 to 20 members of the VACC held up posters calling for the scrapping of the pork barrel system, the jailing of corrupt politicians, and for Napoles to be included in a possible plunder case.

Napoles is the alleged mastermind of the P10-billion pork barrel scam. She is currently detained in an office at the Makati City Jail, awaiting transfer to the facility in Laguna, for a serious illegal detention case based on accusations made by her former employee and cousin, scam whistleblower Benhur Luy.

In a statement, the VACC “condemned the special treatment” being accorded to Napoles.

VACC founding chairman and president Dante Jimenez said: “Fairness and justice would require that in the present circumstances, lawmakers and private individuals alike, if the accusations were true, should be held accountable for the thievery and plunder against the Filipino people.”

He also called on the public to join the vigil outside the Makati City Jail.

In a visit to the jail late Saturday afternoon, Napoles’ lawyer Lorna Kapunan maintained that Napoles’ detention at the Makati City Jail “is not special treatment.”

“I think the public should appreciate the gesture of the government to keep her alive. Whether she will spill the beans or not, let’s just look at evidence,” the lawyer said.

Kapunan brought a red container which she said contained her client’s diabetes medication. Kapunan said she will ask the jail administration to store the medicines in a refrigerator.

Kapunan said that she dropped by because “I have to tell [Napoles] there is no transfer tonight. Her transfer is indefinite.”

The lawyer, however, expressed hope her client’s transfer to the Laguna facility could be made soon. Eyeing the VACC protesters, Kapunan noted: “Public outrage is already mobilizing. How long will this last?”

Nonetheless, Kapunan thanked President Benigno AquinoIII “who has enabled one person to live another day.”

“Our motion is to transfer her to a safe place. Those who question motives should wait. This is all for us. The President says this is a first step to knowing the truth.”

Kapunan objected to proposals of livestreaming Napoles’ detention in Laguna. “Let us not feast on this. this is not a reality show,” she said.

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