MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday, May 26, said that it was only in charge of the security of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles while she’s confined at the Ospital ng Makati.

Everything else – including her health and adherence to the hospital’s rules – is the responsibility of authorities from the Ospital ng Makati (OsMak or Makati Hospital). The clarification was made after it was revealed in a court hearing that Napoles was violating the hospital’s visiting rules.

Napoles’ lawyers added that “unwanted and unwelcome” people were also paying visits to the controversial figure.

PNP Public Information Office head Chief Superintendent Theodore Sindac told Rappler in a phone interview that they were never informed about such visitors.

“We were never told of unwelcome, unauthorized visitors. In our reports, there’s no record of unwelcome visitors,” he said.

Napoles is currently under detention for serious illegal detention charges. She was detained at Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna on September 1, 2013, but was moved to OsMak on March 31, 2014 to remove a mass in her uterus.  

Report to PNP

Napoles’ lead counsel Stephen David first mentioned the alleged visits of “unwelcome visitors” – people who claim to be from the camp of politicians possibly implicated in the scam – after the hearing on Monday, May 26.

David, however, did give any more details, saying Napoles did not disclose the names of her visitors.

“Technically and physically, [Napoles] is under the jurisdiction of [OsMak],” added Sindac.

Sindac said OsMak authorities should have notified the PNP about visits going beyond standard hospital hours. Napoles’ family and legal team, meanwhile, should also have notified the PNP of any unauthorized visits.

The PNP Region 4-A’s Public Safety Battalion is currently providing Napoles’ security.  

OsMak Medical Director Dr. Perry Peralta told a Makati court on Monday that they had been receiving reports of unauthorized visits from people not on the list pre-approved by the PNP.

A nurse and doctor from OsMak said even Napoles’ “authorized” visitors – her family, staff, and legal team – often stayed beyond the hospital’s visiting hours. OsMak only allows up to 2 visitors for every patient at a time, between 9 am to 12 noon and 3 pm to 6 pm.

David said it was not unusual for more than two people to visit Napoles, since she was also drafting an affidavit on the scam. He added that as a detained person, she has the right to access her counsels.

But Sindac said that while lawyers are guaranteed the right to visit their clients, they are still governed by visiting hours, like in Fort Sto. Domingo. They can only come outside visiting hours under “extraordinary” circumstances.

Sindac added that issues of unauthorized visits were never an issue in Fort Sto Domingo, which is run by the PNP. – Rappler.com