Napoles to be transferred to Camp Bagong Diwa on Monday night

Alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles is set to be transferred from her detention cell in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, to Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig, on Monday, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said.

This was after the Makati Regional Trial Court, which is hearing her separate illegal detention case, did not object to the Sandiganbayan order for her transfer.

"The Philippine National Police (PNP) has communicated with the Regional Trial Court of Makati, which in turn issued a Comment interposing no objection to the Order of the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court," said Roxas in a statement.

"Hence, the PNP and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology will cause the transfer of Janet Lim-Napoles to the BJMP Bicutan facility within the day," he added.

PNP public information chief Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac said Napoles, currently detained at Fort Sto. Domingo, will be transferred Monday night.

"Official turn-over to the BJMP will be done in Fort Sto. Domingo but the PNP will provide security escort to BJMP Bicutan.

The Sandiganbayan is currently hearing plunder and graft cases filed against Napoles, three senators and several other individuals implicated in the scam where Priority Development Assistance Fund allocations were allegedly diverted to bogus non-government organizations.

Roxas directed both the PNP and the BJMP to "coordinate and ensure the safety of Ms. Napoles while in transit."

Napoles' lawyer Bruce Rivera told GMA News Online that they filed earlier in the day a manifestation asking the Makati court to "maintain" and "uphold" its commitment order to detain Napoles at Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Napoles has been detained at Fort Sto. Domingo since September last year after she surrendered to President Benigno Aquino III.

The serious illegal detention case was filed by her former employee Benhur Luy, a whistleblower in the pork barrel scam case. The case is being tried at the Makati Regional Trial Court 150.

Last Friday, the Sandiganbayan ordered Napoles' transfer to the BJMP Female Dormitory in Camp Bagong Diwa as Fort Sto. Domingo was not under the jurisdiction of BJMP “hence, it is not a jail.” —Mark Merueñas/KBK, GMA News