MANILA, Philippines - Gertrudes Luy, the mother of pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy, on Monday told the Makati court hearing the bail petition of businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles that her son was detained by Napoles over alleged undelivered transactions and an alleged illegal project.
Taking the witness stand at the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150, Mrs. Luy said she met Benhur three times before he was rescued by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation last March 22 at the Pacific Plaza condominium in Taguig City.
Mrs. Luy said that in the three meetings she had with Benhur, Reynald Lim was always present and would talk about Benhur's alleged involvement in an illegal project and undelivered transactions.
"Narinig ko silang nag-uusap tungkol sa isang illegal project," Mrs. Luy told the court referring to a meeting held inside the mausoleum of Napoles' mother at the Heritage Park cemetery in Taguig City last December 24.
During that meeting, Benhur denied any involvement in any such illegal project, Mrs. Luy said.
Mrs. Luy also told the court that Napoles personally told her last December 25 at the businesswoman's Dasmariñas Village house, that she had ordered Benhur placed under "rehabilitation."
"Sabi niya, pina-rehab daw niya (Napoles) si Benhur sa isang kwarto," Mrs. Luy said.
Mrs. Luy said Napoles was angry at Benhur and felt that she was betrayed by her cousin.
"Sabi niya, pinagkatiwalaan daw niya si Benhur sa mga sekreto niya. Nanghihinayang daw siya at pinagkatiwalaan niya si Benhur," she said.
Mrs. Lim said Napoles is the niece of her husband and that she had worked as a nanny to two of the businesswoman's four children, namely John Christian, 16; and Jean Christian, 23; until last December 26.
Mrs. Lim also told the court that although she had seen the note secretly passed by Benhur to his sister Anabelle Luy-Reario, she did not read it.
"Di ko binasa yun. Pero nakita ko," she said.
Mrs. Lim said she did not read it saying it only brought her pain. The letter instead was read to her by Anabelle.
When asked by defense lawyer Alfredo Villamor if she had misunderstood Benhur's letter that asked for prayers for Napoles' forgiveness as a message that asked for help, Mrs. Lim said she was confused at the time the letter, written by Benhur on a yellow pad paper, was read to hear by Anabelle.
"Binasa ni Anabelle sa akin yun pero di ko naintindihan dahil gulong-gulo ako," she said.
During the last hearing, Benhur's sister, Anabelle told the court that her family met Benhur and Lim at a meeting arranged by Lim at Napoles' South Garden unit at the Pacific Plaza condominium on February 23.
In that meeting, Reario said Benhur managed to slip into her backpants pocket a letter asking that he join them in prayer and in asking for Napoles' forgiveness. Reario said she interpreted Benhur's letter as a message that he is being detained and wanted to be rescued.
Villamor grilled Anabelle as to why she believes that her brother was being illegaly detained when he did not specifically mention it in his letter to her.
Anabelle said that even though it was not mentioned, she believed that her brother was in danger as it was not usual for him to write in that manner to his family.
Villamor also asked why the original letter was in the possession of lawyer Levito Baligod and not attached in the documents presented in court.
Prosecutors told the court that the original letter will be presented when Benhur takes the witness stand on October 25.
Meanwhile, Judge Elmo Alameda also orderd the defense panel led by lawyer Lorna Kapunan to present their evidence on October 29 and October 30.
Kapunan told the court that they intend to present a closed circuit television (CCTV) clip from the Pacific Plaza condominium and Benhur's diary. Kapunan said the evidence they will present will prove that Benhur was not being held against his will.