By Jeffrey G. Damicog
Alleged “pork barrel” fund scam mastermind businesswoman Janet L. Napoles is no longer under the government’s Witness Protection Program.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he has removed Napoles from the WPP where she has been under provisional coverage since Feb. 27 under then Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II.
“Ms Napoles had requested to be admitted into the Witness Protection Program of the Department of Justice due to alleged threats to her personal security, and specifically requested protection by way of transfer from her place of detention at Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City to a secure housing facility with limited access to the public,” Guevarra said in a statement.
“As there has been no further claim of threats to her personal security inside Camp Bagong Diwa, the Secretary of Justice has found no reason to extend further Ms. Napoles’ provisional coverage under the Witness Protection Program,” Guevarra added.
Napoles is facing multiple charges, including plunder, over her alleged involvement in the multi-billion peso Priority Development Assistance Fund scam.
Guevarra said he has issued “a letter to Janet Lim Napoles, through her counsel, notifying the termination of her provisional coverage under the Witness Protection Security and Benefit Program, effective 25 May 2018.”
He noted that Napoles was granted security protection for witness duty since Feb. 27 for a period not exceeding 90 days.
