Benhur Luy tells how Janet Lim-Napoles and her brother Reynald Lim threatened to kill his loved ones as he takes the witness stand Friday at the Makati Regional Trial Court branch 150. JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Janet Lim-Napoles and her co-accused Reynald “Jojo” Lim allegedly convinced a Catholic prelate to confine Benhur Luy in a retreat house because he was hunted down by “senators and mayors.”
Taking the witness stand before the Makati Regional Trial Court branch 150, Luy recounted Friday in a direct examination with the prosecutors that when he was brought by Lim to the retreat house he was threatened to be killed if he would not “keep his mouth shut.”
On the night of December 20, Napoles’ brother took Luy in Bahay San Jose retreat house, bearing the address No. 52 Lapu-Lapu street in Magallanes village, Makati, after being held in a hotel room at
Discovery Suites.
According to the witness, the retreat house was bought by Napoles in 2010.
Luy said they were welcomed by a certain Monsignor Josefino Ramirez, who was a family friend to the Napoleses.
As Lim and Luy waited for Ramirez to sit in the dining area, Lim allegedly whispered to Luy: “Huwag kang makukwento. ‘Wag kang magsasalita. Alam mong may lugar na para sa ‘yo. Diba mahal mo ang pamilya mo? (Don’t say anything. Do not talk. You know there’s a place for you. Isn’t it you love your family?”
Prior to Lim’s threat, Luy said when he was locked in the said hotel room, Lim visited him and showed cellphone pictures of his mother Gertrudes Luy, while saying “Di ba mahal mo ang nanay mo? (Isn’t it you love your mother)”
While testifying in the court, Luy broke down in tears whenever he would mention how Lim threatened to harm his family, particularly his mother.
When the prelate allegedly arrived on the dining area, Lim said “Monsi (Monsignor), Ate (Napoles) instructed Benhur to take refuge here for the meantime. He’s being hunted down by mayors and senators because of his hidden transactions.”
Lim, moreover, instructed Luy not to talk to anyone except Monsignor Ramirez.
He then explained to the perplexed Ramirez that if “the politician’s men would barge in to the retreat house, they will not touch Luy because the monsignor and some priests reside there.”
Ramizen replied saying what would happen to Luy’s responsibilities if he would be confined in the retreat house.
“Ate (Napoles) and I will take care of it,” Lim said.
Luy was then brought to a room, which seemed like a small chapel, opposite to the monsignor’s door.
The hearing of Napoles’ bail petition at the Makati RTC is ongoing.
Napoles, the alleged brains behind the multi-billion pork barrel scam, was charged with serious illegal detention case with his brother Lim.
Lim is still at large.
Related Stories:
Luy tells court: Napoles brother threatened to kill him
Key witness in ‘pork’ scam arrives at Napoles bail hearing
Janet Napoles and the pork barrel scam