Napoles' camp wants her to be transferred to NBI Detention Center

The camp of Janet Lim Napoles on Wednesday said they have requested the Department of Justice to have her transferred to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Detention Center.

"Actually sumulat ako sa DOJ kahapon na kung pwede ilipat na siya kasi hindi na siya dapat doon dahil correctional 'yun para sa mga convicted person. Ang request ko sa NBI," Atty. Stephen David, Napoles' counsel, told reporters in an interview at the Sandiganbayan.

Napoles is currently detained inside the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City for the illegal detention case involving her former aide Benhur Luy.

The Court of Appeals, however, recently granted her appeal on this case, resulting the reversal of her conviction.

David, in the inteview, explained that they wanted to transfer Napoles to the NBI in order for them to participate in the plan of the DOJ to use her as a witness in the investigation on the pork barrel scam.

"'Di ba meron sinabi si DOJ na open sila sa exploratory? So kung ganun, open din naman kami," he said.

Still, the lawyer said it is the Sandiganbayan who has the final word on where Napoles will be detained.

"Dapat may court order talaga. Kaya nga lang ngayon, status quo e. Nandoon siya sa CIW," he said.

Napoles was at the Sandiganbayan on Wednesday to attend the hearing of her graft case with former APEC Party-List Rep. Edgar Valdez in connection with the latter's alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.

She, however, remained inside the Bureau of Corrections vehicle parked within the Sandiganbayan premises during the hearing. She also did not grant interviews with the media.

Personnel from the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division, meanwhile, handed her inside the vehicle the pre-trial order for her graft case with Valdez that she needed to sign.

The pre-trial order contains the list of evidence and witnesses to be presented in the court and issues of the cases to be resolved in the trial.

New petition for bail

In the same interview, David also disclosed that they are planning to file a new petition for bail for Napoles' pork barrel cases.

"Pwede kami ulit mag-file ng petition for bail.... Petition for bail on the basis of unreliable statement of Benhur Luy na na-discover natin sa illegal detention," he said.

The Sandiganbayan granted Napoles' petition for bail for her cases with Valdez and former Masbate governor Rizalina Seachon-Lanete.

The same petition, however, was denied for the cases of former senators Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada, Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., and Juan Ponce Enrile. —KG, GMA News