DoJ ends witness protection coverage for pork barrel scam suspect

Alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles’s provisional coverage under the Department of Justice’s (DoJ) Witness Protection Program (WPP) has been terminated, a statement released to reporters on Friday said.
“Secretary of Justice (Menardo I. Guevarra) issued today a letter to Janet Lim Napoles, through her counsel, giving notice of the termination of her provisional coverage under the Witness Protection Security and Benefit Program (WPSBP), effective 25 May 2018,” read the statement.
Ms. Napoles, who surrendered to the government in 2013 over graft and plunder charges for the alleged misuse of government funds amounting to P10 billion, was partially admitted into the program on Feb. 27 after she submitted a classified affidavit.
Her request to be transferred to the custody of the DoJ’s WPP was denied for lack of merit in a resolution dated April 5.
According to the statement, “Ms. Napoles had requested to be admitted into the Witness Protection Program of the (DoJ) 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.”
“Considering the denial of Ms. Napoles’ Urgent Motion for Transfer of Custody to the (DoJ) WPSBP by the First, Third, and Fifth Divisions of the Sandiganbayan, the main purpose for which Ms. Napoles had sought admission into the WPSBP has become moot and academic,” it read further.
“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 (WPP),” the statement explained.
For its part, Malacañang welcomed the termination, with presidential spokesperson Harry L. Roque saying, “we support (Mr. Guevarra’s) decision and (agree) that Lim is not least guilty whose testimony is not indispensible and can be testified upon by other witnesses.” — Dane Angelo Enerio with Arjay L. Balinbin