MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) spends more to keep businesswoman and plunder respondent Janet Lim Napoles in jail than for the detention of three senators jailed for corruption charges in connection with the pork barrel scam.
PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac said over dzMM that the government spends P150,000 a month for Napoles, who is detained at the Special Action Force camp in Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna.
The police organization spends an additional P120,000 every time Napoles is transported for a court hearing or for medical examinations.
Since Napoles faces three separate plunder charges as the suspected scam mastermind, Napoles has to attend separate court proceedings for each of the cases. She was initially detained for a serious illegal detention case filed by scam whistleblower Benhur Luy.
Sindac confirmed that the PNP spends more on Napoles but did not specify how much it costs to keep senators Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr., Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile behind bars.
The three senators are accused of plunder for allegedly pocketing hundreds of millions in government funds through a scheme operated by Napoles.
The PNP, meanwhile, recently earned criticisms for allowing Enrile to leave jail for medical checkups in private hospitals.
The day following his surrender on July 4, Enrile was given a furlough from the PNP Custodial Center in Quezon City, for an appointment with an eye doctor in Makati City.
Sindac said, however, that the former Senate president, who is also a wealthy industrialist, shoulders his hospital and transport expenses.