Mystery agents got P235M
In the files of Benhur Luy are the names of several people who are not lawmakers or agents of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles but are listed as having received millions of pesos from the Priority Development Assistance Fund.
Twelfth of a series
MANILA, Philippines—In the files of Benhur Luy are the names of several people who are not lawmakers or agents of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles but are listed as having received millions of pesos from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
Until it was abolished last year after the scandal erupted, the PDAF was a graft-ridden pork barrel that funded projects for congressional districts recommended by members of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Benhur Luy was Napoles’ former finance officer who recorded her transactions with lawmakers involving PDAF funding for phantom projects, from which she allegedly paid them millions of pesos in kickbacks.
Four entries showed that P205 million went to a certain “RR” through pork barrel scam state witness Ruby Tuason in 2008.
Article continues after this advertisementOne of the entries, dated Sept. 8, 2008, under JLN cash/check disbursement, reads “R.R. c/o Ruby Tuazon-partial payment of rebate charge to RAD P500 M project.”
Article continues after this advertisement“RAD” means Department of Agrarian Reform, spelled backward.
The Inquirer texted Tuason’s lawyer Jun Valerio and asked for her comment on this entry and for the identity of “R.R.”
Valerio texted back, saying: “I will ask Ruby once I am able to talk to her.”
P98M DOTC project
Another entry involving advances showed that a certain Armand Padilla had a project allocation of P98 million for the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).
The record showed that Padilla received P30 million in commission for the project.
Another entry showed that Brian Yamsuan received a check for P15 million on April 11, 2012.
Still another entry showed an “MJ” who received P2.5 million for a P5 million project involving supply of fertilizer in Laguna on April 25 and May 5, 2003.
The record also showed that “MJ” personally received the money.
No reason was stated for the cash disbursement.
The name “Malinda Julian” appeared several times in Luy’s records of Napoles’ financial transactions.
Instructions from the boss
The Inquirer research team found in Luy’s records a file created on Oct. 18, 2005, containing a narration of an event between Luy and Julian, an interior decorator hired by Napoles.
The narrative showed that Luy, as finance officer, only followed instructions from Napoles.
It showed Luy was 24 years old when he wrote the account.
“It is standing operating procedure in the office for me to call Ms. Napoles for confirmation before releasing any amount from the accounting department … that’s why every time Ms. Malinda Julian gets cash/check from the office I have to call Ms. Napoles for confirmation,” Luy wrote.
The records also showed that lawyers Mark Oliveros and Editha Talaboc received payments of P15,000 each monthly for their notarial services for Napoles’ bogus nongovernment organizations.
The files included 2,156 folders with records of transactions from 2002 to 2012.
The records also included Napoles’ bank accounts, with their numbers and balances.
The records also showed how the lawmakers or their representatives received kickbacks from the projects for which they assigned funds from their PDAF allocations.
Luy’s parents gave his files to the Inquirer during a visit to the newspaper office on April 27, 2013. They asked for help in exposing Napoles’ activities.
Transaction records
Luy, now the principal witness in the prosecution of Napoles, Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla and more than 30 former members of the House of Representatives and former government officials for plunder, recorded transactions between Napoles and her coaccused worth P10 billion over a period of 10 years up to 2012.
Luy recorded Napoles’ transactions with lawmakers, agents or the legislators’ representatives on instruction from the businesswoman herself.
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