Benhur's sister backs whistleblower's detention story

MANILA, Philippines - Pork barrel whistle blower Benhur Luy called his sister Anabelle Luy-Reario and asked to be rescued from illegal detention, a month before his rescue by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation.

This was revealed in court by Reario in the continuation of the bail hearing petition filed by businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles at the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150.

uy had earlier lodged a complaint of serious  illegal detention against his cousin Napoles before the Makati City court.

Reario told the court that Reynald Lim, Napoles' brother and co-accused, had called her mother Gertrudes at around 9 p.m. last February 20 to ask why she (Gertrudes) and her brother Arthur went to Napoles' house in Magallanes Village in Makati.

According to Reario, after her mother had talked to Lim, she was able to talk to her brother Benhur.

Reario told the court that Benhur had asked that he be ransomed from "madam" whom she later identified as Napoles.

"Nagusap kami ni Benhur. Sabi niya, achebeng, tubusin nyo na ako kay madam," said Reario.

Reario added that his brother told her that he was already feeling weak.

"Nanlalambot na ang tuhod niya at nagdurugo ang puso niya," she said.

Reario also told the court that Reynald also threatened to kill Benhur when they went to meet him and Benhur at Napoles' unit at the Southgarden Pacific Plaza at the Bonifacio Global City on January 9.

During that meeting, Lim was trying to force Benhur into admitting that he had entered into some transactions not known by Napoles.

When Benhur kept on denying the accusation, Reario said he heard Lim saying that he was already a convicted criminal and that he will kill for his sister. Reario said Lim was red with anger when he threatened to kill Benhur.

"Sinabi niya kay Benhur, aminin mo na. Papatayin na kita," she said.

Reario also said that if Benhur would not admit having bank accounts not known by Napoles, he would be handed to a certain "Attorney Villamor" to be sent to jail.

Reario told the court that she, her mother Gertrudes and father Arturo went to Manila from their house in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay after Benhur had failed to come home for New Year. She added that the family also got worried after Benhur's friend, Ma. Flor Villanueva, called her on December 19, 2012 and asked that she try to contact Benhur.

Villanueva told her that she saw Napoles' nephew John Lim took Benhur's two mobile phones and that she feared that Benhur was being detained at Napoles' office at the Discovery Suites condominium at the Ortigas Center.

Villanueva added that Benhur's Lafayette condo unit at Eastwood in Quezon City was ordered padlocked by Napoles.

Reario told the court that her family met Benhur and Lim at a meeting arranged by Lim at Napoles' South Garden unit at the Pacific Plaza condominium on February 23.

In that meeting, Reario said Benhur managed to slip into her backpants pocket a letter asking that he join them in prayer and in saying the rosary and in asking for Napoles' forgiveness.
Reario said she interpreted Benhur's letter as a message that he is being detained and wanted to be rescued.

Meanwhile, defense lawyer Alfredo Villamor grilled Reario as to why she did not include the alleged threats made by Lim in her joint sworn affidavit dated March 8, 2013.

Reario answered that she did not find it significant to include the said incidents in a joint sworn affidavit which she and her family members executed at the Department of Justice.

"Di ko binanggit kasi akala ko hindi importante," she told the court.

Villamor also grilled Reario as to why she believes that her brother was being illegaly detained when he did not specifically mention it in his letter to her.

Reario said that even though it was not mentioned, she believed that his brother was in danger as it was not usual for him to write in that manner to his family.

Villamor also asked why the original letter was in the possession of lawyer Levito Baligod and not attached in the documents presented in court. Prosecutors told the court that the original letter will be presented when Benhur takes the witness stand on October 25.

NBI agents rescued Benhur Luy at the South Garden unit on the night of March 22.