Construction of studio-type jail for senators in ‘pork’ scam underway

MANILA, Philippines - The construction of the studio-type detention cell inside the national police headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City is in full swing to accommodate the three senators implicated in the pork barrel fund scam.

Sources revealed construction workers are busy even at night at the area of the Custodial Center of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure the detention facilities are ready when the Sandiganbayan orders the arrest of Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr.

“Each detention cell has a comfort room and was designed to accommodate two detainees in double-deck bed. The toilet has no automatic flush but they have an electric fan inside the detention cell,” the source said.

Although the Sandiganbayan has yet to issue the arrest order, the PNP has started preparing the detention cell for the lawmakers.

The STAR learned that over 50 workers are part of the construction activities of the studio-type detention cells.

PNP officials gave assurance that each detention cell, measuring about seven square meters, was designed in compliance with the International Law on Human Rights.

At present, there are several existing detention cells under the supervision of the Custodial Center.

Police said there are cells which can accommodate four detainees each.

Another source said the Headquarters Support Service, which supervises the Custodial Center, is now analyzing the status of detainees to check who could be transferred to other jail facilities.

The source added PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima, on the recommendation of the PNP Legal Service, has given the go signal to account for the inmates at the Custodial Center.

In the accounting process, the PNP Legal Service is preparing to request the court to order the transfer of detainees to make room for the senators.

Officials of the Custodial Center justified the possible transfer of some detainees, saying the center is a temporary detention facility.

One of them is suspected pork barrel fund scam operator Janet Lim-Napoles, who is detained at the police training facility at Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Napoles is also facing charges of serious illegal detention, a non-bailable offense.

Napoles is recuperating at the Ospital ng Makati (Osmak) following surgery to remove a cyst in her uterus.

Napoles is supposed to be returned to Fort Sto. Domingo following a court order but she asked to stay in hospital to recuperate.

Osmak director Perry Peralta denied reports they have antedated the discharge order on Napoles.

In a letter addressed to Purisima, Peralta denied reports which alleged that Osmak “tried to pass off an antedated release order” for Napoles to escape the blame for her continued stay at the hospital. – With Mike Frialde