A Makati court has approved the transfer of controversial businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles from the Makati City Jail to Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, a report on GMA News TV's "Quick Response Team" said Friday.
Judge Elmo Alameda of the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 ordered the transfer following the suggestions of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-NCR chief Senior Superintendent Roberto Fajardo and Makati jail warden Fermin Enriquez, according to the report.
Napoles's camp asked for her transfer for "safety reasons."
The alleged mastermind in a P10-billion pork barrel scam, Napoles was first brought to Camp Crame in Quezon City after her surrender Wednesday evening. She was brought to Makati City Jail on Thursday night.
According to Enriquez, the Makati jail could not ensure the safety of Napoles since any person with a valid ID could enter the facility.
Fajardo said they arrived at the conclusion after an ocular inspection of the Makati jail.
A report on GMA News's "24 Oras" quoted Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac as saying that Napoles would not be tranferred to Fort Sto. Domingo within the day.
Among the prominent personalities who were previously detained at Fort Sto. Domingo were former President Joseph Estrada and his son Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Nur Misuari, and Sen. Gringo Honasan.
The rural facility houses the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police.
'Not a threat'
Napoles's lawyer, Lorna Kapunan, said they did not expect Napoles to be detained at the Makati City Jail. She also said her client needed protection, as she experiences palpitations and has diabetes.
"She is not a threat to anyone but everyone is a threat to her," Kapunan said.
Napoles and her brother are facing a serious illegal detention case involving whistle-blower Benhur Luy, who implicated her in an alleged scam that funneled billions of pesos into non-existent projects and fake NGOs.
The other jail facilities eyed for Napoles were Camp Crame in Quezon City, where she was originally brought after her surrender to President Benigno Aquino III late Wednesday night, and Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.
It is up to the PNP to decide when to transfer Napoles, according to the "Quick Response Team" report, citing the clerk of court.
