The media reported yesterday that businesswoman Janet Napoles is refusing to transfer to the women’s correctional in Mandaluyong from Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig, following her conviction for plunder.
In documents submitted to the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan on Dec. 14 but made public only yesterday, Napoles alleged that moving to the correctional would put her life in danger and insisted in staying at Camp Bagong Diwa, Rappler reported.
However, the prosecution asked the court for Napoles to be transferred immediately to the correctional after having been convicted of the plunder case where she was accused along with former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., ABS-CBN News said.
The prosecution also said that Napoles failed to provide “any proof about the alleged threats to her life and security, due to her involvement in high profile cases involving high-ranking public officials, while in detention,” according to the Manila Bulletin.
In 2013, Revilla, Napoles, and Revilla’s former staff Richard Cambe were accused of receiving kickbacks from the government’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel.
The PDAF is a fund given to members of the country’s House of Representatives and the Senate. Initiated in 1990, the fund is supposed to be used to fund small-scale infrastructure projects and social services, but have been the subject of numerous cases of alleged corruption.
Prosecutors alleged in 2013 that Revilla’s PDAF were funneled to the projects of questionable non-government organizations, a few of which were linked to Napoles.
Napoles and Cambe were convicted for plunder but Revilla was acquitted. However, Revilla is still facing other graft and corruption cases.
GMA News reported that Napoles will remain at Camp Bagong Diwa until the Sandiganbayan decides on her request.
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