The Manila Times
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday rejected the request of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada to be transferred to the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame in Quezon City because the facility could no longer house high-profile personalities. The Custodial Center in Cam Crame is a maximum-security detention facility used to house high-profile individuals but because of structural defects and plans for headquarters expansion, detainees have been moved to other facilities like the New Quezon City Jail. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr., PNP chief, said he has directed the Legal Service to inform the Sandiganbayan and fully explain why the PNP Custodial Center can no longer accommodate personalities undergoing trial in response to Estrada's request. “We appreciate the trust and confidence of Senator Estrada to the PNP but our facilities here at Camp Crame are no longer ideal to serve as detention facilities for high-profile personalities like him,” Nartatezs said. “I already directed our Legal Service to prepare a response and explanation to the Sandiganbayan on this matter,” he added. Estrada’s legal team asked the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division to transfer his detention to the PNP Custodial Center. However, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla repeatedly announced plans to renovate the facility to pave the way for the construction of new offices. Nartatez said there were other custodial facilities that were also fully secured but provided more comfort to the occupants, compared to the PNP Custodial Center which has certain limitations. Such limitations and other reasons will be fully explained to the Sandiganbayan, especially if the court will ask for comment from the PNP. “We in the PNP respect the wisdom of the court in relation to this matter and we hope that our stand in relation to this matter will be understood and respected,” Nartatez said. High-profile personalities that were previously detained at the PNP Custodial Center include Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, Televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, ex-Bamban town mayor Alice Guo, former senator Bong Revilla and even Estrada himself.
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