Masbate gov detained in Taguig jail

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan ordered Masbate Gov. Rizalina Seachon-Lanete detained at the Taguig City Jail female dormitory in Camp Bagong Diwa, hours after agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) brought her to the anti-graft court yesterday morning.

Associate Justice Jose Hernandez, chief of Sandiganbayan’s fourth division, denied Lanete’s motion seeking that she be detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center where Senators Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, are being held.

Lanete will be held in the same facility where alleged pork scam brains Janet Lim-Napoles and lawyer Jessica “Gigi” Reyes, the former chief of staff of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, are detained.

Accompanied by her lawyers, the governor arrived at the Sandiganbayan at around 9 a.m. and underwent booking process at the security and sheriffs’ services office.

She stayed until afternoon to wait for the anti-graft court to issue a commitment order, directing her detention at Camp Bagong Diwa.

Lanete, who was ordered arrested for her alleged involvement in the pork barrel fund scam, surrendered to the CIDG Wednesday night. She will be arraigned on March 19.

The governor was accused of allegedly pocketing P108.4 million in public funds when she was still a lawmaker.

The funds were reportedly channeled through the bogus non-government organizations allegedly set up by Napoles from 2007 to 2009.

Unless she can convince the court to grant her temporary liberty, Lanete will have to stay in jail while undergoing trial as the crime of plunder is non-bailable.

Lanete’s request to be detained at the PNP Custodial Center was due to security concerns.She cited assassination attempts against her and her family in the past years.

She said she and her brother Fausto Seachon Jr. survived two separate ambuscades in 2004. Four of their companions were killed in the incidents.

Lanete said a police officer pointed a rifle at her and her son during the recent Sinulog Festival.

“To this day, Lanete and her family continue to receive death threats,” her motion read, noting that she can be best secured at the PNP Custodial Center.