Court orders Masbate gov detention in BJMP facility

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATED) The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan on Friday, February 20, ordered the detention of former Masbate representative now Governor Rizalina Seachon-Lanete in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

The Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division set the arraigment of Lanete, who faces plunder and graft charges in connection with the pork barrel scam, on March 19. 

Police authorities presented Lanete to the Sandiganbayan’s 4th Division on Friday, following her arrest warrant over her alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.

Lanete asked the court to detain her in the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame, citing death threats, but the court rejected her request and ordered her detention in the female dormitory of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facility in Taguig.

Alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles and lawyer Lucila Jessica “Gigi” Reyes, the former aide of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, are also detained in the BJMP facility.

In seeking her detention in Camp Crame, Lanete said: “Accused Lanete respectfully submits that, under the circumstances, her life can best be secured at the PNP Custodial Center, which is a well-guarded compound located within the safe walls of Camp Crame.” 

Other politicians detained at the PNP facility over the pork barrel scam are Senators Jinggoy Estrada, and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr, while Senator Juan Ponce Enrile is at the PNP General Hospital.

Lanete surrendered to authorities on Wednesday night, February 18, hours after the Sandiganbayan ordered her arrest based on an Ombudsman complaint.

Lanete faces plunder and 11 counts of graft.

She allegedly got P108.4 million in kickbacks from Napoles from 2004 to 2010, by alloting her Priority Development Assistance Fund to ghost projects of the businesswoman’s bogus nongovernmental organizations.

She also allegedly misused P112.29 million of her PDAF from 2007 to 2009. – Rappler.com