100 cops to secure Napoles arraignment today

MANILA, Philippines - Around 100 policemen have been assigned to secure the arraignment of alleged pork barrel mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles at the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 150 on Monday.

Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, spokesperson of the Philippine National Police, said the security operations will be led by the Special Action Force, under the command of Senior Superintendent Noli Talino.

Other police units involved in the security operations are Police Regional Office 4, National Capital Region Police Office, Southern Police  District, Makati police, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Highway Patrol Group, and Intelligence Group, Sindac added.

He said that the policemen had staged a "run-through" last Saturday to ensure that the security operations would be smooth.

"SAF have also conducted some drills in anticipation of all possible scenarios," Sindac said.

He also noted that "only regularly available resources of the police units involved normally allocated for such activities will be used."

Napoles and her brother, Reynald Lim, are facing a case serious illegal detention filed by pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy.

Napoles will be transported by the police from her detention house in Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna to the Makati City court for her arraignment scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Lim remains at large.