MANILA, Philippines - Businesswoman Janet Napoles asked the Sandiganbayan to excuse her from the attending the bail hearings on the plunder charges filed against her in connection with the pork barrel scam.
In her motion, Napoles, through her lawyers, requested the Sandiganbayan's Third Division, chaired by Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, to allow her to no longer attend the court proceedings due to "physical and mental fatigue."
"She has been experiencing physical and mental fatigue in going to Sandiganbayan from her detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa and back when attending the said bail hearings, in addition to the anxieties brought about by being a detention prisoner," her motion read.
Her lawyers also claimed her medical condition after undergoing operation at the Ospital ng Makati last April.
"Apart from being a diabetic, accused had undergone a major operation for the removal of her uterus, both ovaries, and still recovering," Napoles legal counsels said.
Napoles has been tagged as the brains behind the P10-billion pork barrel scam.
Aside from Napoles, government prosecutors have also filed plunder charges against Sens. Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon Revilla Jr., and Jinggoy Estrada, all detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame.