Ex Napoles maid suffering 'severe hypertension'

MANILA, Philippines - A former housemaid of businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles who was jailed for qualified theft last February was ordered freed by the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 145 after being acquitted.

Public Attorneys Office (PAO) chief, Persida Rueda Acosta said Dominga Cadelina was released from the Makati City Jail at about 1:30 p.m.

Acosta said Cadelina, a native of Davao City, who was accompanied by two relatives, was then brought to the Evangelista Hospital in San Pedro Laguna for checkup.

"She will have to be confined at the hospital for at least two days until doctors determine what is causing her severe hypertension," Acosta told the Star.

Acosta said she personally intervened in Cadelina's case two weeks ago and took over from the PAO lawyer assigned to her case.

According to Acosta, the case of qualified theft filed against Cadelina by Napoles' brother Reynald Lim and her husband Jaime Napoles was junked after questioning the evidence presented against her.

Acosta said Cadelina was slapped with the case of qualified theft after Reynald Lim and Jaime Napoles accused her of stealing Janet Lim Napoles' four panties and two handbags.

Acosta said the complainants said the alleged stolen panties were worth $800 each even though they were only able to present reciepts showing that the panties were worth $8 each.

Acosta added that the court also questioned why two men acted as the complainants in the case.

"The court said the complainants should have included some women. They (complainants) also padded the value of the alleged stolen items inorder to make the case non-bailable. The complaint was fabricated. She has been acquitted by the court," said Acosta.

Acosta said the PAO will be providing Cadelina with security after she expressed fear for her safety.

"Ayaw ngang lumabas at sumama sa amin kanina. Natatakot siya at nasa labas pa raw si Reynald Lim at si Jaime Napoles," she said.

Acosta said Cadelina will temporarily stay at a PAO safehouse as she is not under the government's witness protection program.

Napoles, through her lawyer Lorna Kapunan,  had asked the Makati Refional Trial Court Branch 150 to have her detained at Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna instead of at the Makati City Jail where Cadelina was also detained.