Napoles’ lawyers ask Sandiganbayan to subpoena Luy’s travel history from BI

Alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles. Photo from Aquino’s official Facebook page.

MANILA –- The lawyers of alleged pork barrel mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles asked the Sandiganbayan on Monday to subpoena the travel history of whistle-blower Benhur Luy from the Bureau of Immigration.

Napoles’ lead counsel Stephen David said they want to see Luy’s particular travel records from 2004 to 2013.

The request for the issuance of subpoena for such travel records is addressed to First Division Clerk of Court Teresita Rosete.

“This is to formally request from the Honorable Court to issue a Subpoena Duces Tecum to the Bureau of Immigration, Legal Division, Magallanes Drive, Intramuros, Manila regarding the travel history/record within the period of 2004 to 2013 of Benhur K. Luy who will testify on August 7 and 14, 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.,” the motion read.

Napoles, who owns several bogus non-governmental organizations (NGOs), is facing plunder and graft charges for allegedly masterminding the pork barrel scam.

Her cousin, trusted man and former employee Luy was the one who exposed the wide-scale scam after he was locked up in a room for almost two weeks.

In the position paper, Napoles argued that they wish to subpoena Luy’s records in order to establish his credibility.

Luy had earlier testified that he had seen Napoles meeting with Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla’s senior political officer Richard Cambe to give him the standard operating procedure (SOP) or commissions from the scam.

David countered that he had information that Luy was out of the country during those times, adding that the whistle-blower took multiple trips to Europe.

Therefore, he said, it is impossible for his client to meet Cambe to give his alleged commission from the scam.