Aquino: Courts to decide on Napoles hospital arrest

Janet-Lim Napoles. CONTRIBUTED FILE PHOTO/PNP/PIO

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III said it will be up to the courts to decide if alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles should be placed under hospital arrest.

Aquino, during an ambush interview in Manila, said it is the government’s obligation to ensure the well-being of those detained in jails. However, any medical reason resulting in hospital arrest should be verified

“So ipapacheck natin kung meron syang medical reason. Tapos at this point in time korte ang magsasabi kung saan sya pwedeng dalhin,” the President said.

(So we’ll have her checked to see if there is a valid medical reason. And, at this point in time, it is the court that will decide where she will be placed.)

Napoles, who is currently detained at Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna, has recently asked the Makati Regional Trial Court if she could be examined for ovarian tumor and eventually placed in hospital arrest at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig.

Meanwhile, lawmakers want Napoles transferred to a regular jail because of the high cost of keeping her at Fort Sto. Domingo.

Aquino acknowledged the different proposals raised.

“Merong kampong nagsasabi bakit nga namang kailangan pa syang ihawalay sya dun parang wala na yata yung threat sa kanya dahil wala syang sinasabi,” he said.

(There are groups saying there is no more need for her to be separated from the other detainees because her life is no longer threatened as she continues to withhold information.)

The President last week said he did not think Napoles should be considered a state witness because she continues to deny the accusations against her and has refused to cooperate and give information to authorities.

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