Filipina Janet Lim-Napoles inside a detention cell at Fort Santo Domingo in the town of Sta Rosa, Laguna province, Philippines, yesterday.
MANILA: Sharp objects, shoelaces and ropes are not allowed for this high-value detainee. She gets a refrigerator and a reception room but not air-conditioning.
Controversial businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, at the centre of controversy over a multibillion-peso pork barrel scam, settled into her special detention facility yesterday, with her custodians making sure no harm would come to her, either from outside elements or by her own hand.
Apart from ensuring that she cannot use any implements for committing suicide, her custodians must also make sure she cannot get hold of any device for escaping, according to Deputy Director General Felipe Rojas, Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy chief for operations.
Napoles was taken into custody by the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) at Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna following the order of the Makati City court to have her transferred for security reasons. PNP-SAF director Chief Superintendent Carmelo Valmoria said shoelaces and curtains are not allowed at the bungalow where Napoles is now detained.
“We assure the public that there are no ropes or curtains inside. There are no sharp objects there. Even toothbrush handles have been broken,” Valmoria told reporters at the main gate of Fort Sto. Domingo shortly after Napoles was formally turned over.
“It’s like a typical bungalow with the doors and windows having grills,” Valmoria said.
Sacks were placed around the fence of the bungalow to allow Napoles some privacy.
The bungalow has a floor area of 82.4 square meters.
It has a 40sq m receiving room and a common toilet measuring 3.25 square meters. The bedroom is 19.2sq m. The windows, doors and ceiling have iron grills and its doors have padlocks.
Valmoria said the police camp is secured with closed-circuit television cameras installed at various points as part of the tightened security for Napoles.
He said the detention facility was not air-conditioned, but a small refrigerator was allowed for Napoles to store her medicine since she is a diabetic.
Valmoria said there are medical personnel available inside the camp in case of emergency.
Valmoria explained Napoles is considered a detainee under the rules of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) since she is facing charges of illegal detention before the Makati City court.
Under BJMP regulations, sharp and pointed objects like toothbrush handles, kitchen utensils, metal spoons and forks are not allowed inside the detention cell.
He said Napoles would have to depend on the food rations brought to her since cooking is not allowed at the detention facility.
“Napoles will get meals three times a day but without any snack in between regular meals. But since she is a diabetic, she could have biscuits,” Valmoria said.
When Napoles was turned over to the custody of the police camp, she had a blood pressure of 120/90. “She needs to have trice a day insulin, that’s why she needs a small refrigerator,” Valmoria added.
He said retired Marine Col. Jimmy Napoles was not allowed to stay with his wife but was told to guide the police guards on how to administer the insulin and other medical procedures regarding her diabetic condition.
Valmoria added Napoles could move freely inside her detention facility, which will be padlocked as soon as regular visiting hours is over.
The facility will be opened at 6am. The Philippine Star
