Benhur Luy stares at Cunanan as he denies receiving money from Napoles’ staff, contrary to Luy’s statement. KRISTINE SABILLO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines – Benhur Luy, the principal whistleblower in the P10-billion pork barrel scam, claimed during a Senate hearing on Thursday that he had personally seen Dennis Cunanan carrying a bagful of money from Janet Lim-Napoles.
Luy alleged that Cunanan, director general on-leave of the Technology Resource Center, personally received P960,000 commissions when he met with Napoles at the latter’s office.
It was Napoles herself, he said, who had instructed him to prepare the money for Cunanan.
Luy said he placed the money in a paper bag and handed it to certain Evelyn De Leon, who was also present at a meeting room.
“Pagkalabas po ng conference room, nakita ko sya bitbit nya (yung paper bag),” said Luy, responding to queries of Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.
But Cunanan, who was at the hearing, stood by his statement that he did not receive kickbacks from the legislators’ pork barrel funds.
“The fact na may lapse na ho dun sa time na binigay kay Evelyn at binigay sa akin, I don’t know what happened…”
If indeed he had received kickbacks, then Cunanan asked why Luy still had to lobby for the release of funds to non-government organizations linked to Napoles coursed through the TRC.
Cunanan said he even investigated Napoles’ NGOs when he became head of the TRC.