Luy says former Quiapo Church rector received monthly stipend from Napoles

Pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy on Wednesday linked the former parish priest of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, more commonly referred as Quiapo Church, to the alleged systematic misuse of public funds.

During his last day of testimony before the Sandiganbayan Third Division, Luy bared before the court that Monsignor Josefino Ramirez used to receive monthly stipend from Napoles’ company, JLN Corporation.

“Before, we are giving him cash and then later on we started issuing checks…It is a form of monthly stipend we used to give to the monsignor,” said Luy, who was testifying before the Third Division against Napoles’ petition to post bail for a plunder case.

Luy said the cash and check donations were usually given by Napoles to Ramirez every time the priest was celebrating First Wednesday Mass at the JLN Corporation Office at Discovery Center in Ortigas in Pasig in 2006.

Luy said there were seven checks issued by JLN Corporation to Ramirez but he could not recall the total amount.

Napoles had earlier admitted being close to Ramirez as she was a devotee of the Black Nazarene.

Napoles also said that in 2012, former Sandiganbayan Fourth Division chairman Associate Justice Gregory Ong has asked her to introduce him to Ramirez to be given a chance to touch the robe of the image of the Black Nazarene, which is believed to be miraculous.

Napoles said that at that time, Ong was suffering from a severe ailment.

Last year, the Supreme Court dismissed Ong from service after it found him guilty of fixing the malversation case of Napoles in connection with the alleged anomalous sale of 500 Kevlar Helmets to the Philippine Marines in 1998.

However, upon the questioning of Third Division senior member Associate Justice Samuel Martires, Luy admitted that the cash and check donations allegedly received by Ramirez were not recorded in his daily disbursement reports (DDR) but were just “lumped” with the record of JLN Corporation’s monthly expenses.

“Doon na po nakalagay 'yun sa JLN Corporation monthly expenses record,” Luy said.

“So, how sure are we that you are telling the truth, that you gave money to the monsignor?” Martires asked.

“Because I was the one preparing the money to be given to the monsignor,” Luy answered.

Luy was a former finance officer of JLN Corporation. He also used to be the right-hand man of Napoles when it comes to her alleged transactions with lawmakers in connection with the pork barrel scam.

Martires then questioned Luy on whether there is anything wrong with donating money to the church or to a priest.

“There is nothing wrong with giving money, your honor,” Luy responded.

“Then why did you include his name in the preliminary investigation?” Martires asked.

Martires was referring to Luy’s affidavit submitted to the Makati Prosecutor’s Office when the serious illegal detention case he filed against Napoles was just being investigated.

Luy explained that he cited Ramirez’s alleged receipt of monetary donations from Napoles to disqualify the priest from being presented as a witness of Napoles’ camp.

“As I understood from my lawyer, hindi puwedeng maging witness si monsignor sa serious illegal detention case ni Napoles kasi may monetary benefit siya na natanggap from Napoles… He is biased in the sense na pabor siya kay Napoles,” Luy explained.

The case was then filed by the Makati Prosecutor’s Office to the Makati Regional Trial Court.

In April of this year, the Makati RTC found Napoles guilty of the case and has sentenced her to up 40 years of imprisonment.

Martires, however, seemed unconvinced with Luy’s explanation and declared that he “dragged” the name of the monsignor even without a proof to back his allegation.

“You have an ax to grind against the monsignor that is why you dragged his name when in fact you have no record that he received a certain amount from JLN Corporation,” Martires said.

Luy did not respond to Martires’ statement.

Ramirez, who is now retired, had earlier admitted receiving cash donations from Napoles’ Magdalena Luy Lim Foundation, named after the controversial businesswoman's late mother.

He maintained that he received the donations “in utmost good faith and without any knowledge as to the source of the funds.” He also said that the donations were used in financing the church’s various programs, including those under the Caritas Manila.

Wednesday’s hearing marked the last day of testimony of Luy before the Third Division. The next whistleblower set to take the witness stand is Ruby Tuason, the alleged “bagman” of Senators Juan Ponce-Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada, who are both detained in connection with the pork barrel scam. —KBK, GMA News