No special treatment at Correctional Institution for Women – Napoles lawyer

The lawyer of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles on Friday denied a report that the businesswoman is getting special treatment at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City where she is being detained.

 

“Hindi totoo yun, walang ganun… Mahirap mangyari yun dahil napakaraming nagbabantay sakanila dun,” David told reporters after the bail hearing for Napoles' plunder case before the Sandiganbayan Third Division.

 

David was referring to a television report aired on Thursday that said that Napoles was being allowed to sleep at the CIW’s “mother and child” ward despite being detained at the general ward.

 

“Puwede naman sila mag libot-libot dun sa compound (ng mother and child ward) during the day. You are free to roam around there, puwede ka magpunta sa chapel. Pero yung natutulog daw siya dun, tinanong ko siya (Napoles) at wala daw katotohanan yun,” David reiterated.

 

Citing a “source” inside the CIW, the television report said Napoles and two fellow inmates who are allegedly her helpers were allowed to sleep overnight at the mother and child ward on at least two instances.

 

David maintained that only the inmates who have recently given birth and are nursing as well as those who are in the advanced stage of pregnancy are allowed to stay in the mother and child ward.

 

David also denied the report that Napoles is undergoing a psychiatric therapy for her claustrophobia.

 

“Claustrophobic talaga siya noon pa. Pero alam mo sa Correctional, maluwag talaga at maaliwalas dun. Mahigit isang taon ko na siyang hindi naririnig na sinusumpong nun (claustrophobia),” David said.

 

David admitted that the inmates at the CIW have recently undergone psychiatric counselling as part of the Correctional’s routine procedure.

 

“Routine nila yun, meron talaga silang routine na chine-check up (ang inmates). Kasi siyempre sa dami ng mga nakakulong dun, yung iba nagkaka-depression. Merong ganun talaga, spiritual counseling and psychiatric counseling,” David explained.

 

Napoles has been detained at the CIW after being convicted by the Makati Regional Trial Court for a serious illegal detention case filed by her second cousin and former employee, Benhur Luy. She was sentenced to imprisonment of 40 years.

 

Napoles is also facing multiple plunder and graft charges before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the pork barrel scam.

 

Luy is the primary state witness in the pork scam cases. — JDS, GMA News