Manila, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – Alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles was returned to her detention center in Fort Sto Domingo in Laguna on Thursday evening, May 29, after almost two months of confinement at the Ospital ng Makati.

The convoy carrying Napoles left the Ospital ng Makati shortly past 9:30 in the evening, 8 hours after a Makati court ordered her “immediate” transfer. She was in a wheelchair and wearing a blue hoodie.

Police said Napoles’ convoy arrived in Fort Sto Domingo at 10:20 pm “with no untoward incident.” 

Napoles was escorted by Senior Superintendent Roberto Fajardo, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Detection and Investigation Group National Capital Region, and an officer from the PNP Southern Tagalog region. Fajardo also escorted Napoles when she was transferred to the hospital to remove a mass in her uterus.

Napoles’ convoy back to Laguna is composed of personnel from the PNP CALABARZON, the PNP Highway Patrol Group and the PNP Special Action Force.

Cops arrived at the hospital a little before 8pm on Thursday. Earlier on Thursday, at around 1pm, Judge Elmo Alameda ordered Napoles’ return to Laguna after he denied a motion to extend her hospital stay.

In an earlier interview with reporters, Napoles’ counsel Bruce Rivera said the controversial figure was ready to be moved back to Laguna despite her apprehensions. She had also settled her hospital bills, which amounted to over P105,000 as of May 15.

Facing a plunder complaint before the Ombudsman, Napoles now wants to be a state witness. – Rappler.com