Senate panel questions PNP’s excessive spending for Napoles detention

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The budget of the Philippine National Police (PNP) will be put under scrutiny by the Senate committee on finance over its alleged excessive spending for detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, chairman of the committee, said the PNP would have to explain during the next budget deliberation whether or not it has a specific allocation for  an accused  VIP (very important  person) like Napoles, who has been detained at the Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

The PNP reportedly spends a P150,000 a month to secure Napoles compared to a measly  P1,612 being spent for an ordinary detainee.

“Pinanawagan na namin na tigilan na yan… na hingin na sa korte na ilipat na sa ordinaryong selda, pinapanindigan pa rin nila,” Escudero told reporters Wednesday.

(We have already called on them to put a stop to it, to ask the court to transfer [Napoles] to an ordinary jail but they are standing by it.)

“Actually titingnan namin pagdating ng budget deliberation, particular sa budget ng PNP, ganyan kalaki ang ginagastos mo? Saan nyo kinukuha, anong binabawasan nyong gastusin at magkano ba ang naka-allot dyan kada taon? Dahil wala akong maalala na partikular na pondo para sa mga VIP na akusado at ganyan kalaking gastusin tuwing lalabas sila,” he pointed out.

(Actually, in the next budget deliberations, we’ll particularly look into the PNP’s budget. Did you spend that much [for Napoles]? Where did you get the funds? And how much was allocated for it every year? Because I can’t remember a particular fund for accused VIPs that you spend that much whenever they go out.)

Escudero was among those who have been questioning the perceived  special treatment   being given to Napoles, the alleged mastermind in the P10 billion pork barrel  funds scam.