Luy’s damning claim might affect Cunanan status as witness

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila De Lima on Friday said Dennis Cunanan’s provisional status at government’s witness protection program might be affected by Benhur Luy disclosure that the former Technology Resource Center director general  also received kickbacks from the “pork barrel” scam.

Luy said that Cunanan received P960,000 in commission from Janet Lim-Napoles after using his agency as one of the conduits of the detained businesswoman in siphoning off of lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

Cunanan denied Luy’s allegation during Thursday’s Senate hearing, insisting he did not benefit from any transactions involving the graft-tainted PDAF.

But De Lima said she has no reason to doubt Luy’s credibility.

Cunanan has been accepted in the government’s protection program on a provisional status, which means he will still be evaluated before getting full protection as government witness.

“His status under the WPP will be affected because of what Benhur has said. But I do not want to make a definitive action at this point. I want to hear his [Cunanan’s] explanation first,” De Lima told reporters Friday. “We are actually giving him a chance to rectify himself.”

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