Priest's secretary testifies: Luy went to Napoles house for solitude

MANILA, Philippines - A secretary of a Roman Catholic monsignor who lived at a house reportedly owned by businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles on Friday told a Makati City court that Benhur Luy had stayed at the house but only for “solitude.”

Taking the witness stand at the continuation of the hearing at the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 150, Abelardo Hernales, a secretary of Monsignor Josefino Ramirez said he saw Luy at the house which is also known as “Bahay ni San Jose.”

The house located at 52 Lapu Lapu Street inside the posh Magallanes Village was where Luy was allegedly detained on Napoles’ orders. It is also used to house several Chinese priests who are reportedly friends of the businesswoman.

According to Hernales, he saw Luy brought to the house on December 2012 by Reynald Lim, who is Napoles’ brother and co-accused in the case.

Hernales told the court that Ramirez told him that Luy will be temporarily staying at the house for “solitude."

"Monsignor told me that Benhur Luy will stay for the meantime for solitude," he said.

Hernales told the court that during his stay at the “Bahay ni San Jose,” Luy would spend time reading the Bible or writing on his notebook. Hernales added that he saw Reynald Lim fetch Luy from the house to go out several times during his stay.

Napoles’ lawyers earlier presented in court two security officers from the Pacific Plaza Towers condominium who testified that they heard Luy telling agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) who were there to rescue him on the night of March 22, 2013 that he was not kidnapped by Reynald Lim and that he refused to go with them.

Napoles’ lawyer Bruce Rivera earlier told reporters that they are prepared to present a total of 18 witnesses, including several Chinese priests to prove that Luy was not illegally detained at the “Bahay ni San Jose.”