The Department of Justice (DOJ) has placed Janet Lim Napoles under protection as she turns into a government witness.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has confirmed that Napoles, the principal accused in the pork barrel scam, has been placed under the provisional coverage of the government’s Witness Protection Program (WPP).
Aguirre said Napoles has executed an affidavit which provided more details on the misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
“We confirm that Janet L. Napoles has been placed under Provisional Admission of WPP subject to affidavit she submitted which is now undergoing assessment,” Aguirre said in a text message.
But he said Napoles is still not under the physical custody of the WPP.
“As of the moment, physically she is not under WPP due to provisional status of admission. If requested by subject we can provide additional security and as warranted, address medical needs,” Aguirre added.
Last year, Aguirre has created a new task force to reinvestigate the multi-billion peso anomaly after meeting one of Napoles’ counsel.
He said Napoles implicated at least three more senators and two former executive officials in the PDAF scam.
The reinvestigation on PDAF scam came after the Court of Appeals acquitted Napoles earlier this month in the illegal detention case filed by pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy before the Makati regional trial court.
Napoles remains in detention since she is still facing plunder, graft and malversation charges before the Sandiganbayan, along with former senators Jinggoy Estrada, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Juan Ponce Enrile. /muf
Read: No selective justice in pork scam reinvestigation-Aguirre