Secretary of Justice Menardo 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 Benefits Program (WPSBP), effective 25 May 2018.
Ms. Napoles had requested to be admitted into the Witness Protection Program of the Department of Justice (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. On 27 February 2018 the DOJ granted her security protection for witness duty only, for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days.
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. 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 Witness Protection Program.