THE Sandiganbayan First Division has denied Janet Lim-Napoles’ plea for custody transfer to the Department of Justice Witness Protection Program (DOJ WPP). She is one of the accused in the P224-million plunder case filed against former Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. in connection with the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel scam. “Thus, to place accused Napoles into the custody of the WPP despite being presently under detention for a lawful cause is contrary to the clear and express import of Article IX, Section 1 of the IRR of RA 6981,” the court said in part. The defense filed motions asking the Sandiganbayan’s First, Third, and Fifth Divisions to order the BJMP to transfer custody of Napoles to the justice department’s WPP. The defense said in the motion filed on March 16 that on February 27, 2018, the DOJ provisionally admitted Napoles into the WPP pursuant to Republic Act (RA) 6981 (the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act).

Source: Manila Times April 10, 2018 06:33 UTC