Nina JEFFREY DAMICOG at BETH CAMIA, ulat ni Czarina Nicole O. Ong

Kinumpirma kahapon ng Department of Justice (DoJ) na isasailalim sa Witness Protection Program (WPP) ng kagawaran ang tinaguriang “pork barrel scam mastermind” na si Janet Lim Napoles.

Businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles swear before the senate blue rebbon commitee which holding inquiry into the 10 billion Priority Development Assitance Fund (PDAF) scam_081113_Senate02_Bob-Dungo,jr

Businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles swear before the senate blue rebbon commitee which holding inquiry into the 10 billion Priority Development Assitance Fund (PDAF) 

“We confirm that Janet L. Napoles has been placed under Provisional Admission of WPP subject to Affidavit she submitted which is now undergoing assessment,” ayon kay Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.

72 PDL's ng Manila City Jail, naka-enrol sa PUP Open University

72 PDL's ng Manila City Jail, naka-enrol sa PUP Open University

Tumanggi ang DoJ na ibunyag ang iba pang detalye sa provisional admission ni Napoles sa WPP.

Ipinaliwanag ni DoJ Undersecretary Erickson Balmes na “contents of her provisional admission is confidential.”

Inihayag ni Aguirre na sa ngayon ay wala sa kustodiya ng DoJ si Napoles.

Kasalukuyang nakakulong si Napoles sa detention facility ng Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) sa Camp Bagong Diwa sa Taguig City.

“As of the moment, physically she is not under WPP due to provisional status of admission,” paliwanag nito. “If requested by subject we can provide additional security and as warranted, address medical needs.”

Nag-isyu na ang DoJ ng sertipikasyon na nagsasabing si Napoles ay saklaw na ng Witness Protection Security and Benefit Program (WPSBP), epektibo nitong Pebrero 27.

Ang naturang certification ay pinirmahan ni Program Director, Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Ma. Nerissa Molina-Carpio.

Unang hinirit ni Napoles sa Sandiganbayan na ilipat siya sa kustodiya ng DoJ.

Kahapon, naghain na rin si Napoles ng urgent motion sa Sandiganbayan First Division para mailipat na siya sa WPP ng DoJ dahil na rin sa “security concerns”.

“There were recorded incidents of harassments, intimidation and threats on her life and security, which could be avoided if the DoJ-WPP would be allowed to perform its mandate to protect the accused-movant,” saad sa mosyon ni Napoles.

Nang tanungin kung makaaapekto sa mga kinakaharap na kaso ni Napoles ang pagiging state witness niya, sinabi ni Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales: “It has no effect on the cases under trial in court.”

Nahaharap si Napoles sa patung-patong na kaso sa Sandiganbayan, kabilang ang plunder at graft na may kaugnayan sa pagkakasangkot niya sa multi-bilyong pisong Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.

Napaulat na si Napoles ay ikinokonsidera para gawing state witness sa planong reinvestigation sa pork barrel scam, makaraang ma-acquit sa kasong serious illegal detention.