P53M NGO deposits traced to Napoles’ bank account

Janet Lim-Napoles. Photo by Ryan Leagogo

The supplementary statement signed on Aug. 5 by four whistle-blowers, all former employees of Napoles, showed that the amount was withdrawn from accounts of the NGOs in the Metrobank branch on Magdalena Street in Binondo and deposited in the same bank in the account of the businesswoman. A copy of the statement was secured by the Inquirer.

In one day alone, on  Nov. 12, 2009, a total of P39.7 million was deposited in cash from Countrywide Agri & Rural Economic Development Foundation (Cared) and deposited to Napoles’ Metrobank Account No. 073-3-07352390-8.

It was the most detailed account of fund transfers yet revealed in the current investigation the NBI has been conducting on allegations that Napoles had diverted P10 billion in funds from the pork barrel of lawmakers and government agencies to ghost projects of 21 dummy NGOs allegedly created by Napoles.

“The financial transactions showed that government funds received by these foundations ultimately ended up in the personal accounts of JLN or in her owned or controlled corporations, not to the intended farmer beneficiaries,” the statement said.

Some bank transactions on instructions from Napoles and recorded by Benhur K. Luy involved fund transfers from the NGOs “to specific accounts of certain government officials.”

The officials were not named, but previous affidavits said pork barrel funds of five senators and 23 members of the House of Representatives were used by Napoles for the alleged ghost projects.

The affidavit was signed by Benhur K. Luy, Merlina P. Suñas, Gertrudes K. Luy and Annabelle Luy. The Luys are all relatives of Napoles, and her former employees. They were among six former Napoles employees who have blown the whistle on Napoles’ activities.

Benhur K. Luy, the principal whistle-blower, said that according to records he had personally prepared as he was tasked to do by Napoles, there were cash deposits and withdrawals from the NGO accounts that were deposited in the account of Napoles in the Metrobank branch during a nine-day period in 2009:

— P7,050,000 withdrawn from account of the Masaganang Ani para sa Magsasaka Foundation Inc. and deposited in the account of Napoles on Nov. 12.

— P5,050,000 withdrawn from the account of Agri & Economic Program for Farmers Foundation Inc. and deposited to the Napoles account on Nov. 12.

— P3,100,000 deposited from the account of Agricultura para sa Magbubukid Foundation Inc. (Amfi) on Nov. 12.

— P2,700,000 deposited from the account of Cared on Nov. 12.

— P7,288,000 deposited from the account of Cared, also on Nov. 12.

— P2,950,000 cash deposited from Cared on Nov. 17.

— P4,100,000 cash deposited from Cared on Nov. 17.

— P3,375,000 cash deposited from Cared on Nov. 17.

— P1,075,000 cash deposited from Cared on Nov. 17.

— P3,125,000 cash deposited from Cared on Nov. 17.

— P3,800,000 combined cash from Cared and Amfi deposited on Nov. 18.

— P1,235,000 combined cash from Cared and Amfi deposited on Nov. 18.

— P1,000,000 cash deposited from Cared on Nov. 19.

— P1,610,000 cash deposited from Cared on Nov. 19.

— P700,000 cash deposited from Cared on Nov. 20.

— P750,000 cash deposited from Cared on Nov. 20.

— P1,500,000 cash deposited from Cared on Nov. 20.

The document said that to liquidate these funds, Napoles would instruct her employees, including Luy and Suñas, to prepare acknowledgment receipts from supposed beneficiaries, accomplishment reports and requests for the release of remaining funds and officials receipts.

“In summary, and based on our personal knowledge, all government funds received by these foundations were actually diverted from their intended purposes to the personal accounts of JLN and to her owned or controlled corporations,” the affidavit said.