Luy’s bank accounts to be opened

Pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy. Screenshot from InterAksyon/TV5

MANILA – The Sandiganbayan has allowed the opening of the bank accounts of Benhur Luy, pork barrel scam whistle-blower, as long as it will be used in the plunder case against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.

The anti-graft court’s Fifth Division said that the money and other assets of the witness may be scrutinized.

According to the Sandiganbayan, Luy’s bank accounts, travel records, real property records and even vehicle ownership records, and even those of fellow whistle-blowers Marina Sula and Merlina Suñas may be subpoenaed, as requested by pork barrel fun scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

Ombudsman lawyers tried to stop the Fifth Division saying that the whistle-blowers should not be considered given that they are the accused in the case.

However, Fifth Division ruled in accordance with Napoles’ motion.

“We agree with the prosecution that the depositors-witnesses are not the accused in the instant case. We, however, find that the monies of the depositors-witnesses in the bank accounts subject of the subpoena can be considered as subject matter of the litigation,” magistrates handling the Estrada plunder case said.

All Luy, Suna and Sunas allegedly maintained multiple bank accounts with the following banks: Bank of the Philippine Islands, Metrobank, United Coconut Planters Bank, Banco De Oro, Land Bank of the Philippines, Philippine Savings Bank and Citibank.

The Fifth Division was headed by Associate Justice Rolando Jurado with Associate Justices Alexander Gesmundo and Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta as members, made a different decision from the Sandiganbayan First and Third Divisions, which prohibited scrutiny of the whistle-blower’s bank accounts.

The First Division is in-charge of the plunder case against Senator Ramon Revilla Jr., while that of Senate Minority Floor Leader Juan Ponce Enrile is with the Third Division.