Janet Lim Napoles, the Filipino businesswoman who allegedly masterminded the P10-billion pork barrel scam, refused to enter a plea for the serious illegal detention case filed against her and her brother.
Judge Elmo Alameda of the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 entered the ‘not guilty’ plea on behalf of Napoles.
Napoles’ lawyer, Atty. Lorna Kapunan, said they were unable to enter a plea as there was an ongoing case before the Court of Appeals.
She was referring to the petition questioning the arrest warrant against her client and Reynald Lim pertaining to the serious illegal detention case.
Napoles has requested to move venues for her trial before Friday, when the court hears her motion for bail.
“We will file an appropriate motion for the SC (Supreme Court) to decide on what truly is in the best interest of not only the accused but of also the government,” Kapunan said.
Kapunan also said that they will be filing in the next court hearing a motion to waive Napoles’ appearance.
Napoles is currently detained in Fort Sto. Domingo, Sta. Rosa City, Laguna.
She surrendered to President Benigno Aquino III hours after he announced a nationwide manhunt and a P10-million reward for information leading to her arrest.
Her co-accused, Lim, remains at large.
The case was for allegedly detaining whistle blower, cousin, and former employee Benhur Luy for three months.
Luy, who was rescued in March, insists that his detainment was related to anomalous transactions involving the misuse of the Priority Development Assitance Fund, the formal name of pork barrels, allocated to her multiple bogus agencies.
Luy is currently in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), as a witness to the pork barrel scam.
The NBI filed plunder and malversation charges against Napoles, and other current and former public officials including three incumbent senators.
Senator Teofisto Guingona III has filed a subpoena before Senate President Franklin Drilon which calls for Napoles to testify before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Thursday.
(with reports from gmanetwork.com/news, mb.com.ph, and inquirer.net)