MANILA, Philippines–An agent of the National Bureau of Investigation who took part in the rescue of Benhur K. Luy from the hands of Janet Lim-Napoles and brother Reynald “Jojo” Lim said Friday that the whistleblower at first “resisted” being rescued by the NBI team.
“Ayokong sumama sa inyo. Walang ginawang masama sa akin si Kuya Jojo (Reynald Lim),” NBI agent Rodante Berou quoted Luy as telling the NBI agents who rescued him from being allegedly detained by the siblings on March 22 this year.
Berou stood as one of the witnesses from the prosecution side during the hearing held on the bail petition of Napoles before the Makati Regional Trial Court presided over by Judge Elmo Alameda.
Berou was one of the agents assigned with the NBI’s special task force sent to rescue Luy at an apartment unit owned by Napoles at the South Garden Condominium Unit at the Pacific Plaza Tower in Bonifacio Global City.
He recalled that during the rescue operation, the NBI agents had to let his parents, Arturo and Gertrudes, convince Luy “that they were NBI agents” sent to rescue him from his alleged detention.
Berou said that Luy only agreed to go with the NBI team after Luy had talked to his parents.
Atty. Lorna Kapunan, counsel of Napoles, insisted that Luy clearly did not need to be rescued from Napoles and Lim.
“But he already said he did not want to come (with the NBI agents), meaning ‘why am I being rescued and who are you rescuing me against?'” she said.
The rescue of Luy was prompted by his parents who said that their son was being detained by the siblings since December 20 last year.
But Napoles’ camp claimed that Luy was in a “spiritual retreat” in the condo unit for three months.
Napoles is currently detained at Fort Santo Domingo in Santa Rosa, Laguna, after she surrendered to President Aquino days after a warrant for her arrest was issued by Judge Alameda over charges of serious illegal detention filed against her and her brother.
On Monday, Judge Alameda entered a plea of not guilty in behalf of Napoles during her arraignment on the said case.
The same day, the camp of Napoles filed a motion for bail, which the Makati court is currently hearing.
The hearing on the bail petition is still ongoing as of posting time.
Originally posted at 12:38 p.m.