Luy testimony to be used to clear 2 plunder accused

MANILA, Philippines - The lawyer of the Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr.'s two co-accused in the plunder case said on Thursday that he hopes to clear his clients using the testimony of whistleblower Benhur Luy.

In an interview with reporters after the bail hearing of Revilla at the First Division of the Sandiganbayan, lawyer Stephen David said he will be adopting Luy's testimony to exonerate Ronald John Lim and John Raymund de Asis.

"Ngayon natutuwa ako at least yung dalawa, yung pamangkin at yung driver ay maabswelto ngayon dahil nautusan lang naman talaga sila," David said.

Lim is the nephew of businesswoman and alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Napoles while De Asis is the businesswoman's driver-bodyguard. Lim and De Asis remain at large.

David also noted that Luy said in open court the employees of Napoles only followed her instructions.

"Sinabi niya na si Ronald John Lim and John Raymund de Asis ay nautusan rin lang naman e, bakit natin sila puplunderin?" the lawyer said.

Luy told the tribunal during the hearing of Revilla's bail petition that Lim and De Asis ignored the summons of the National Bureau of Investigation and Office of the Ombudsman during the pork barrel scam probe.

He said he is willing to testify in favor of Lim and De Asis when asked by David during the cross examination.

Aside from Revilla, Napoles, De Asis and Lim, Revilla's legislative staff, lawyer Richard Cambe is also facing plunder before the First Division in connection with the P10 billion pork barrel scam.