DOJ rejects 2 more respondents in fertilizer scam witness’ kidnapping

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has thumbed down the petition of a witness in the P728-million fertilizer fund scam to implicate two more persons in the kidnapping charges he filed against a businesswoman and her brother.

In a six-page order released yesterday, Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera denied the motion of Benhur Luy to include Ronald John Lim and Marina Sula in the charge sheet, along with JLN Group of Companies owner Janet Napoles and her brother Reynald Lim.

Navera said the preliminary investigation stemmed from an inquest proceeding following the arrest of Lim, and should be resolved immediately. 

“The invocation of the right to a speedy disposition of cases is persuasive considering that respondent Lim is detained (albeit under hospital arrest by the National Bureau of Investigation at St. Luke’s Hospital),” the ruling said. 

Navera added that the complainant could file a separate complaint against Ronald John and Sula.

Luy was rescued last March 22 from the residence of Napoles,  one of the suppliers of fertilizers to the Department of Agriculture during the Arroyo administration.

Luy’s parents said Napoles and her brother had detained their son since December last year after he decided to testify in the graft case.

Napoles said Luy’s move to include more respondents in the preliminary investigation of the kidnapping case “is nothing but a shameless scheme aimed to hinder the DOJ from promptly resolving the case” and also “to harass her and prejudice her constitutional rights and to unduly prolong the detention of respondent Lim.”

Luy alleged that Ronald John took his personal belongings, including his cellular phones, from Dec. 19, 2012 until last March 22 while Sula withdrew money from his personal account. 

Luy’s parents said said JLN Group of Companies  forged signatures of “fictitious individuals” in organizing several non-government organizations  that allegedly benefited from the fertilizer fund scam.