MANILA, Philippines – Janet Lim Napoles’ and Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes’ experience in a “regular jail” won’t be so regular after all.

Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) National Capital Region spokesman Inspector Aris Villaester told Rappler in a phone interview that the two are staying inside the “livelihood rooms” for males and females at the BJMP facility inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

“Nasa first floor ‘yung dalawa. Halos magkatabi ng room, pero separated naman,” Villaester told Rappler on Wednesday, July 30. Reyes and Napoles are involved in the biggest corruption scandal in the country to date, the so-called pork barrel scam.

(They’re on the first floor. Their rooms are practically beside each other, but they’re separated.)

The two women – alongside senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon Revilla Jr, and Jinggoy Estrada – are accused of pocketing millions of pesos in lawmakers’ discretionary funds by diverting them to fake non-governmental organizations and projects. They are facing plunder and graft charges before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan.

But unlike the 3 senators who are detained at the national police headquarters in Camp Crame, Reyes and Napoles were committed to the BJMP’s “female dormitory” in Taguig.

Different, but not special

Asked why Napoles and Reyes were held in separate rooms, Villaester said, “Kasi high-profile sila at hindi sila basta-bastang ihahalo.” (They’re high-profile detainees so we can’t just mix them with other detainees.)

Villaester added that Napoles and Reyes are not allowed to see each other as part of their “security measures.” Other reports, however, claim Reyes is actually staying in the jail warden’s office. 

The first floor of the Taguig jail is where the offices are located, while the next two floors are for male detainees. Female detainees occupy the 4th and top floor, which has an entrance separate from the male detainees’ floors. The Taguig jail has an “ideal capacity” of 78 inmates, but currently houses around 140.

Villaester, echoing officials from other agencies involved in detaining those accused in the pork barrel scam, emphasized there was no “special treatment” in detaining the two women on the first floor instead of in cells.

The spokesman said they are also avoiding a situation wherein Reyes or Napoles would gain privileges due to their stature. “Kapag inihalo namin, may pera ‘yan, baka kukuha sila ng katulong sa loob,” said Villaster. (If we mix them with other detainees, since they have money, they might “hire” a helper from among the other detainees.)

Reyes has made a plea before the anti-graft court to transfer her to the PNP Custodial Center.

“High-profile” detainees are defined as those involved in “sensationalized cases” or those involving people “with considerable influence.” The decision to detain Napoles and Reyes to the “livelihood rooms” and not in cells was made by the jail warden and BJMP officials.

Separate soon

Napoles’ stay inside the male “livelihood room” won’t last for long. Villaester said the BJMP would soon move Napoles to a facility close to the BJMP building but farther away from Reyes. The room, which serves as an office for jail personnel, is still being converted to accommodate the infamous Napoles.

“Maliit lang ito na room,” added Villaester. (It’s only a small room.)

Napoles was earlier detained at a PNP camp in Laguna over kidnapping charges. A month short of her first anniversary in Fort Sto Domingo, she was ordered transferred to the BJMP facility in Taguig by the 3rd division of the Sandiganbayan.

Reyes and Napoles were both allowed to bring in their own mattresses and other things – subject to the approval of the BJMP. Neither are in air-conditioned rooms, said Villaester.

Villaester also denied reports citing sources that said sick inmates were being displaced due to the arrival of Reyes and Napoles. “Walang madi-displace kasi ang ginamit nating room ay ‘yung livelihood. Paano sila madi-displace?” he said. (There’s nobody to displace because they’re using livelihood rooms. How would the sick inmates be displaced?)

While the livelihood rooms are being used by the two, Villaester said inmates will conduct activities in their own dormitories.

He also denied that the jail’s infirmary was being fixed solely for the two detainees. “The infirmary was being renovated even weeks before they arrived.” 

The jail warden makes requests for renovations or the creation of new facilities in the facility. – Rappler.com