No festivities for Napoles, PNP says

MANILA, Philippines - Alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles will have to be content with the presence of her immediate family on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve without any festivity or food brought from outside, a police official said.

Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, Philippine National Police (PNP)-Public Information Office (PIO) chief said the court ruled Napoles’ family would not be allowed to bring in any food or gift.

Sindac said the court, however, approved Napoles’ request for extended visiting hours in her detention room at Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna. He added that up to eight immediate members of the Napoles family would be allowed inside the detention room.

Based on the court order, Sindac said Napoles’ family may stay in her detention cell from 1 p.m. on Dec. 24 to 1 a.m. today.

The court also allowed them to visit Napoles from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. today.

Sindac said the court order also allowed Napoles’ relatives to visit her from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

Normally, visitors can only visit Napoles from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Tuesday to Friday; and 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends.

Since last September, Napoles has been detained for serious illegal detention charges filed against her and her brother Reynald by pork scam whistle-blower Benhur Luy. Reynald remains at large.

Napoles is tagged as the mastermind in the pork barrel scam.

She is facing various plunder complaints with the Office of the Ombudsman.

Witnesses alleged some lawmakers had received kickbacks from projects carried out by non-government organizations linked to Napoles.