Court orders Napoles jailed in Makati

Michael Bueza

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

(3rd UPDATE) Her arraignment is scheduled on September 9

MUGSHOTS: Police officers show mugshots of Janet Lim Napoles. Photo by Paterno Esmaquel/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines (4th UPDATE) – A regional trial court in Makati on Thursday, August 29, issued a commitment order for the transfer of Janet Lim-Napoles to the Makati City Jail.

Diosfa Valencia, clerk of court of the Makati RTC Branch 150, said a sheriff was on his way to Camp Crame to deliver the commitment order for Napoles. After she receives this, she is expected to be brought to the city jail, Valencia added.

“Based on the rules of court, [the place of detention of Napoles] will be in Makati City jail,” Valencia said.

But the lawyers of Napoles later in the day filed a motion to stop her transfer on the ground that her life is in danger. 

READ: Napoles asks court to stop transfer to Makati jail

The case was earlier raffled off to Judge Elmo Alameda.

Sheriff Joseph Edwin Carreon left the Makati court around 2pm to deliver the commitment order to Napoles in Crame.

However, the head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in the National Capital Region (NCR) said it is uncertain if Napoles will be brought to jail on Thursday.

READ: Napoles may join ex-maid in jail

CIDG-NCR regional chief Police Senior Supt Roberto Fajardo said it depends on security preparations.

Personal safety niya, kailangan din yon. Hindi lang ito basta basta na dalhin,” Fajardo told reporters. (It’s also important to ensure her personal safety. Bringing her to jail is not that simple.)

As of posting, neither the CIDG nor the lawyers of both camps have filed motions to change the location of Napoles’ detention.

The PNP-CIDG returned the warrant of arrest and submitted a certificate of detention to the court on Thursday.

Other supporting documents including Napoles’ mug shot were also submitted, but were not shown to the media.

Napoles surrendered to President Benigno Aquino III Wednesday night, August 28. She spent the night in an office in Camp Crame.

Going forward

Napoles’ arraignment is scheduled on September 9.

Meanwhile, Valencia confirmed that Napoles can file a petition for bail, despite her case – serious illegal detention – being a non-bailable offense.

Valencia cited the case of Antonio Leviste, who was charged with his long-time aide’s murder, another non-bailable offense, but was allowed to post bail and be temporarily released in 2007.

Leviste’s case was tried by Judge Alameda in the same Makati court.

On Friday, August 30, at 1:30 pm, a Motion to Inhibit filed by the Napoles camp last August 22 will be heard in court.

In that motion, Napoles asked Judge Alameda to inhibit himself from the case, saying due process was “truly railroaded” when she issued the arrest warrant against Napoles and her brother Reynald Lim on August 14.

If the motion is granted, the case will be re-raffled to another RTC branch. – with reports from Paterno Esmaquel II/Rappler.com

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Michael Bueza

Michael is a data curator under Rappler's Tech Team. He works on data about elections, governance, and the budget. He also follows the Philippine pro wrestling scene and the WWE. Michael is also part of the Laffler Talk podcast trio.