Napoles claims ‘harassment’ in jail raid

Detained suspected pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles claimed “harassment, intimidation and threat” on her “life and security” during a surprise raid by Bureau of Jail Management and Penology personnel on her jail cell in October last year.

Napoles’ lawyers Stephen David and Carl Jillson Acasili submitted an incident report on the raid to the Sandiganbayan last March 21 to substantiate Napoles’ earlier claim that her life was at risk in the Jail Female Dormitory at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

They also urged the antigraft court to grant her urgent motion to transfer her custody to the Department of Justiceís Witness Protection Program.

Operation Greyhound

The Sandiganbayan First Division is hearing the plunder charges against Napoles and several other former government officials.

The incident report, signed by the jail warden, Chief Insp. Editha Balansay, detailed the “Operation Greyhound” raid in the wee hours of October 12.

Balansay said that based on post-operation information that reached her, the raiding team cut the chain lock and kicked the door open to get inside Napolesí cell. A male jail officer in a mask and full battle gear frisked Napoles, she added.

Items confiscated

“The entire cell was searched and ended with the confiscation of some items, [including] personal belongings, and the cutting and disabling of the [closed circuit television] security camera,” Balansayís report read. –JAYMEE T. GAMIL