Napoles Surrenders to PNoy in Malacañang

Napoles Surrenders
Credit: PNP
MANILA, Philippines - Janet Lim Napoles surrenders to Philippines President Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III on Wednesday night, August 28, 2013. Napoles was forced to surrender after PNoy announced publicly that a P10 million bounty for her arrest was already in effect.

Napoles was being hunted down by the NBI due to a warrant of arrest due to a serious illegal detention case filed against her by Benhur Luy. She was also under investigation due to allegations that she masterminded a P10 billion pork barrel scam.

Malacañang officials explained that Napoles "voluntarily surrendered." In defense of her surrender to PNoy, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that, "It is not the first time that fugitives surrendered to the President." Lacierda further explained that Napoles surrendered to the President "because her family has issues with the National Bureau of Investigation."

According to Lacierda, the delivery of Napoles to Malacañang "is part of the voluntary surrender that they requested. We wanted to make sure that she is safe rather than if you don't do anything, if you don't take up this lead, what will you say. Hindi na natin nahuli. So we are doing our best to bring us closer to the truth."

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Nonnatus Rojas told reporters that they may have been left out of the Napoles surrender because it may have been part of conditions from the Napoles camp for her voluntary surrender.

Napoles is currently detained at Camp Crame and is set to be transferred to Makati City Jail on Thursday afternoon.