Janet Lim-Napoles. BOY SANTOS/POOL
MANILA, Philippines–The Sandiganbayan’s third division, which is hearing alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles’ petition for bail, dismissed her soon after the hearing started Friday morning for health reason.
Napoles, according to her lawyers, had been nursing a fever for two days.
The Sandiganbayan called the court’s doctor to check Napoles’ vital signs. Her blood pressure registered 140/80 and her temperature 37.73.
During the hearing, Associate Justice Samuel Martires asked why Napoles was handcuffed when she was brought to the court.
When Napoles was detained in Fort Sto. Domingo, her custodian did not handcuff her, he said.
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) explained that it was SOP for them to handcuff all accused while on their way to the court or on their way back to detention.
“We remove the handcuff s while inside the courtroom,” the BJMP officer said.
Jessica Lucila Reyes, former chief of staff of co-accused Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and who is also under the custody of the BJMP, was also handcuffed when she was arraigned for plunder two weeks ago.
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