SC grants Sandigan's request for Napoles court appearance

MANILA — The Supreme Court en banc granted yesterday the request of Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotage-Tang for businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles to be brought to the Sandiganbayan, "as may be necessary and upon appropriate process issued," for hearings on her bail application in various cases pending before the SB, where Napoles is charged with plunder.

The presiding justice's request was prompted by Napoles's recent conviction by the Makati Regional Trial Court for Serious Illegal Detention, where she was sentenced to reclusion perpetua, in the case filed against her by pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy, her estranged cousin and chief operator.

As a result of that conviction in the Makati court, Napoles was moved to the Correctional Institute for Women to commence her service of sentence.

However, citing impracticality and reasons of security, the SB presiding justice requested the Supreme Court for permission to allow Napoles to be brought to the Sandiganbayan on those dates that her bail hearings would be conducted. Finding the reasons to be well taken, the SC has granted the request, according to SC spokesman lawyer Theodore Te.

Napoles and several others are facing plunder and graft charges in connection with the pork barrel scam, where billions in allocations of lawmakers' Priority Development Assistance Fund were allegedly diverted to bogus nongovernment organizations created by Napoles. (Interaksyon News Online)