An agent of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), said pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy initially resisted his rescue last March 22 from a condominium unit in Bonifacio Global City.
In his testimony to Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 150, NBI Special Task Force executive officer Rodante Berou said Luy at first refused to go with NBI agents when they stormed the unit owned by alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles and her brother Reynald “Jojo” Lim.
Berou was testifying during the hearing for the petition for bail filed by Napoles’ camp, presided over by Judge Elmo Alameda.
Berou noted Luy’s apparent surprise and initial refusal.
He quoted Luy saying in the local language, ” I don’t want to come with you. Kuya (older brother) Jojo did nothing bad to me.”
He recalled that Luy only went with the team after his parents convinced him that they were agents sent to rescue him from his alleged detention.
Napoles’ counsel Atty. Lorna Kapunan insisted that Luy did not need rescuing from the siblings.
Atty. Kapunan claims to have video footage proving that Luy was not restricted at the condominium.
In an interview with reporters, she said the video show Luy freely walking with every chance of escaping unharmed.
“He could have easily ran to the elevator,” she said.
Judge Alameda will allow the use of the video as evidence provided it was properly authenticated.
Berou told the court that Napoles was at the scene at the time of the rescue and the arrest of her brother, but she was not identified despite the team having a photocopy of her picture.
He said Napoles shouted expletives at the team, and demanded a warrant, which they said they did not need for ongoing crimes.
The rescue was prompted by complaints by Gertrudes and Arturo Luy, who claimed their son was held against his will by Napoles and Lim, since December of 2012.
Berou admitted to the court that his team did not bother to validate the claim of Luy’s family.
(with reports from The Philippine Star and The Philippine Inquirer)