Luy, 5 witnesses back in Senate

MANILA,  Philippines— Principal  whistle-blower Benhur Luy  returned to the  Senate on Thursday along  with  five other witnesses in the  P10 billion  “pork barrel” funds scam.

Aside from Luy, the  five  whistle-blowers who were presented by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to the Senate blue ribbon committee were Gertudes Luy, Marina Sula, Merlina Suñas, Arlene Baltazar and  Monette Briones.

De Lima said the whistle-blowers were “willing though with great  hesitance” to appear before the hearing.

Two or three  of the whistle-blowers, she said,  would appear for the first time in public.

And just like when Luy  first testified in the Senate last September 12,  De Lima requested the committee to allow  the whistle-blowers not to name those who have not been charged yet in court.

De Lima was forced to produce the whistle -blowers after getting a dressing down from the committee chairman,  Senator Teofisto Guingona during the last hearing Tuesday.

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