Luy tells court he thought NBI rescuers were hit men

Benhur Luy, the principal witness in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA/INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines—Benhur Luy, the principal witness in the P10-billion pork barrel scam, said Tuesday he resisted being rescued by a team from the National Bureau of Investigation at first over fears that it could be killers who were sent by disgruntled senators and mayors.

Luy said he was shocked after the NBI team suddenly entered the apartment unit owned by Napoles at the South Garden Condominium Unit at the Pacific Plaza Tower in Bonifacio Global City.

“May lumapit sa akin na tao. Hindi ko narinig na nagpakilala . . . sabi: ‘Benhur Luy? Benhur Luy?’” Luy recounted during the hearing for a bail petition filed by Janet Lim-Napoles before Judge Elmo Alameda of Branch 150 of Makati City Regional Trial Court.

He said yes he is Benhur Luy, and he felt “scared” because he didn’t know who the men were as he saw one of the men with a gun tucked in his waist.

“Akala ko sila yung taong kukuha sa’kin . . . na ha-hunting ako . . . na papatayin ako,” Luy said.

When Napoles and his brother Reynald “Jojo” Lim accused him of pocketing money from secret transactions, Luy claimed that he has been repeatedly threatened by Lim that there are senators and mayors who are hunting him down for betraying Napoles.

It was the same thing Lim told Monsignor Josefino Ramirez of Bahay San Jose retreat house as to why Luy had to stay there.

“Sa takot ko [sabi ko] ‘ayoko sumama, ayoko sumama.’ Wala akong ginagawang masama, kuya, Jojo,” Luy recalled saying.

Luy’s mother had to approach his son to tell him that the agents were rescuing him.

It was only after Luy realized that his family, indeed, had him rescued, that he stood up and left with the agents.

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