MANILA, (PNA) — Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II has ordered round-the-clock security on Janet Lim-Napoles, who is now detained at the Makati City Jail where she was transferred shortly before midnight on Thursday.
Roxas, who led top government and law enforcement officials in overseeing the turn over of Napoles to the jail facility from Camp Crame, stressed the government wants to ensure the safety of Napoles while in police custody.
According to Roxas, security teams have been formed to look after the safety of Napoles, tagged in the alleged P10-billion “pork barrel” scam.
“There will be 24/7 visual security on her, two lady-cops will be assigned to her all the time,” Roxas told the media after Napoles was turned over to the Makati City Jail.
The DILG chief also said that “security layers” are in place for the safety of Napoles.
Roxas said that Napoles is now staying in a small room — furnished with an air-conditioning unit, an old sofa and a desk — inside the Makati City Jail.
He said Napoles is not mixed with the general population of the jail facility for security reasons.
At present, Roxas said there are more than 100 female and more than 400 male detainees inside the Makati City Jail where Napoles was committed by Judge Elmo Almeda of the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 150.
Incidentally, Roxas noted that one of the female deatinees was a former household help of Napoles whom she charged with qualified theft.
Aside from Roxas, Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Alan Purisima and top officials of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) were present during Napoles turnover to the Makati City Jail.
Napoles voluntarily surrendered to President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III on Wednesday night, hours after the P10-million reward was issued by the Chief Executive. She was initiallybooked at the PNP National Headquartersin Camp Crame.
Napoles became a fugitive last Aug. 16 after Judge Almeda issued a warrant of arrest against her and her brother, Reynald Lim, in connection with the serious illegal detention charge filed by their relative and former staff Benhur Luy.
Luy,who is now acting as state witness, tagged Napoles as the alleged brains behind the P10-billion scam involving the priority development assistance fund or “pork barrel” of lawmakers.