Luy admits sending Napoles’ PDAF proceeds to US accounts

Whistle-blower Benhur Luy on Thursday said he personally sent portions of alleged scheme mastermind Janet Lim Napoles' share of the pork barrel scam to her bank accounts in the United States.

Luy said some parts of the Priority Development Assistance Fund of lawmakers went to government agencies for the implementation of the bogus projects while some went to offshore accounts.

“Pinapa-telegraphic po namin sa US sa kanyang accounts," Luy said during his testimony on the graft case of detained former Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. at the Sandiganbayan First Division, where Napoles is also an accused.

On Wednesday, a US federal grand jury ordered the indictment of Napoles and five others for money laundering by supposedly funneling some $20 million in Philippine public funds in and out of the US through a “multi-year bribery and fraud scheme.” 

The US Department of Justice said Napoles, her children Jo Christine, James Christopher, and Jeane Catherine; brother Reynald Luy Lim, and his wife Ana Marie, were charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, domestic money laundering, and international money laundering.

Napoles is currently detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, while Jo Christine and James Christopher are tagged with their mother in the P900-million Malampaya fund scam.

Luy and his private lawyer Jam Calnea declined to comment on whether the state witness is prepared to testify before a US court.

Luy instead said he would rather focus on the cases of Napoles pending at the Sandiganbayan, which includes five charges of plunder and numerous graft raps.

“No comment, hindi ako allowed to speak anything about that. I'm concentrating on the, sa pag-testify ko sa court,” he told reporters in an interview.

Asked for comment, lawyer Stephen David said his law firm will not handle the case of Napoles in the US since they only represent her at the Sandiganbayan.

"Wala ako masasabi d'yan. Di ako mag-handle niyan, US case kasi yan, pang-local lang ako," David said in a statement. — RSJ, GMA News