Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac. NOY MORCOSO lll/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines- Securing the personalities embroiled in the multi-billion pork barrel scam is becoming costly for the government.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday said it is spending P150,000 monthly to secure detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles at Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna including her trips to the Sandiganbayan during court hearings.
Speaking to reporters, Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac said the PNP is spending P50,000 every trip of Napoles from her detention to the anti-graft court.
In June, Napoles had two trips to Sandiganbayan for the arraignments of Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada. On Friday, she appeared at the Sandiganbayan for the arraignment of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile.
Sindac said much of the budget is being used for gasoline consumption, police convoy, meals, and other operational and logistical expenses.
He said the expenses were lower from the previous trips of Napoles since they have cut down resources and logistical requirements.
According to him, around 50-70 persons are part of the police convoy from the usual 120 persons.
Meanwhile, the expenses of senators and personalities detained in Camp Crame in connection with pork barrel scam are also shouldered by the government.
He said the trips of senators Revilla, Estrada, and Enrile including lawyer Richard Cambe cost around P40,000.
He said that the trips of the senators and Cambe cost less because their detention facilities in Crame are nearer to Sandiganbayan than that of Napoles’.
He mentioned that P27,000 was allocated for the meals of the police security and personnel involved while P13,000 for vehicle requirement and gasoline consumption.
He said a high security police convoy is needed during the trips of the high-profiled detainees.
“We always presume the highest level of threat since they are high-profiled detainees,” he said.
He said the funds being used by the PNP is from the Operational and Agency Reserve Fund of the PNP.
“The agency reserve is an allocation for unprogrammed expenses, “he said.
The PNP, according to him, is mulling to request a supplemental budget for 2015.
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