Palace: DoJ studying proposal to transfer Napoles to regular jail

Janet Lim-Napoles being escort‎ed by personnel of Regional Public Safety Battalion Region 4A Calabarzon and Special Action Forces. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Justice (DOJ) is studying the proposal to transfer alleged pork barrel mastermind Janet-Lim Napoles to a regular jail, Malacañang said on Friday.

Speaking to reporters during the regular Palace briefing, Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the transfer of Napoles to a regular jail is being carefully studied, citing the fact that Napoles is still considered as a high risk detainee.

“The government has maintained the need to secure her given the gravity of the anomaly she is allegedly to have operated. However, the proposal to transfer her is being carefully studied,” Valte said.

She mentioned the report of the Philippine National Police (PNP) that the government spends about P120, 000 every time businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles travels from her detention facility in Laguna to Metro Manila and back to attend court hearings.

Some lawmakers have also been calling the transfer of  Napoles to a regular jail to spare the government from unnecessary expenses.

“We are not deaf to the call,” Valte said.

She, however, made it clear that where to detain Napoles would be a decision of the court and not the government’s.

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