Janet-Lim Napoles inside his cell in Fort Sto. Domingo CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/PNP/PIO
MANILA, Philippines – Despite the relatively high cost of keeping alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles in detention, Malacañang on Sunday said they would have to keep her in Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna as ordered by the court.
“Ginagampanan ng ating pamahalaan ang tungkuling ito alinsunod sa batas at mga proseso ng katarungan. Ang pagde-detain po kay Ginang Napoles ay ayon sa utos ng regional trial court na may sakop sa kanyang kaso at sinusunod po ng PNP ang utos ng hukuman,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said in a press briefing.
(The government is performing its task in accordance with the law and the judicial process. The detention of Napoles was ordered by the regional trial court that has jurisdiction over her case and the Philippine National Police is just following it.)
Coloma’s remarks were in response to a question if whether the government can afford keeping Napoles in Fort Sto. Domingo for P150,000 a month.
The Makati Regional Trial Court last August 30 granted Napoles’ transfer from the Makati City Jail to Fort Sto. Domingo because she was a “high-profile detainee” needing a safer jail facility.
Coloma did not say if they are considering transferring Napoles to a regular jail for lower maintenance and security costs.
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