(CNN Philippines, May 16) — Alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles is back in Taguig City Jail Female Dormitory in Camp Bagong Diwa after more than two years in detention at the Correctional Institute for Women (CIW).
The transfer, which happened at 4:45 a.m. Monday, comes after two divisions of the Sandiganbayan denied her motion seeking detention at the National Bureau of Investigation, citing imminent threats to her life.
Read more: Sandiganbayan denies Napoles’ request for NBI detention
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said they cannot provide a special cell for Napoles as the female dormitory is congested.
BJMP Spokesman SInsp. Xavier Solda said Napoles is expected to act like any other detainee as no VIP treatment will be given to her.
“There’s one small area na napakasikip, in fact amoy-daga nga talaga siya. So most likely, baka doon siya ilagay. Pero wala pang final na area kasi naghahanap pa rin kami ng area within the jail na pwede siya i-co-locate with other inmates,” Solda said.
[Translation: There’s one small area that’s very cramped, in fact, it smells like rats. So most likely, she’ll be detained there. But there’s no final area as of now because we’re lloking for an area within the jail to co-locate her with other inmates.]
The Taguig City Jail Female Dormitory holds almost eight times its capacity of prisoners, with 304 female detainees taking up cells made for only 32.
Solda however reminds that despite lack of special treatment, Napoles will be safe, and will continue to have access to her family, lawyer, and doctor of her choice as part of her rights.
“Kung ang kailangan lang naman ay magbi-BP sa kanya or magbibigay ng medical advice, we have roving doctors naman and nurses sa facility,” he said.
[Translation: If all she needs are people who will check her blood pressure and give medical advice, we have roving doctors and nurses in the facility.]
Napoles surrendered to former President Aquino on August 28, 2013 after a P10-million bounty was put up for her arrest. She was first detained at the SAF Training School in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna.
Napoles was then brought to Camp Bagong Diwa on July 2014.
In April 2015, the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 150 sentenced Napoles to up to 40 years in jail for illegally detaining her cousin and former employee Benhur Luy. She was detained at the CIW.
Napoles is reunited with another female pork barrel scam suspect Gigi Reyes who is also detained in the Taguig facility.
Reyes, arrested in 2014, was former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile’s chief-of-staff.
