黑料社

Luy tells court: I was confined in Catholic retreat house

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/黑料社

MANILA, Philippines鈥擩anet Lim-Napoles and her co-accused Reynald 鈥淛ojo鈥 Lim allegedly 聽convinced 聽a Catholic prelate to confine Benhur Luy 聽in a retreat house because he was hunted down by 鈥渟enators and mayors.鈥

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 鈥渒eep his mouth shut.鈥

On the night of December 20, Napoles鈥 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: 鈥淗uwag kang makukwento. 鈥榃ag kang magsasalita. Alam mong may lugar na para sa 鈥榶o. Diba mahal mo ang pamilya mo? (Don鈥檛 say anything. Do not talk. You know there鈥檚 a place for you. Isn鈥檛 it you love your family?鈥

Prior to Lim鈥檚 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 鈥淒i ba mahal mo ang nanay mo? (Isn鈥檛 it you love your mother)鈥

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 鈥淢onsi (Monsignor), Ate (Napoles) instructed Benhur to take refuge here for the meantime. He鈥檚 being hunted down by mayors and senators because of his hidden transactions.鈥

Lim, moreover, instructed Luy not to talk to anyone except Monsignor Ramirez.

He then explained to the perplexed Ramirez that if 鈥渢he politician鈥檚 men would barge in to the retreat house, they will not touch Luy because the monsignor and some priests reside there.鈥

Ramizen replied saying what would happen to Luy鈥檚 responsibilities if he would be confined in the retreat house.

鈥淎te (Napoles) and I will take care of it,鈥 Lim said.

Luy was then brought to a room, which seemed like a small chapel, opposite to the monsignor鈥檚 door.

The hearing of Napoles鈥 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 鈥榩ork鈥 scam arrives at Napoles bail hearing

Read more...