Benhur Luy's list more credible, says Baligod

MANILA - The former lawyer of pork scam whistle-blower Benhur Luy believes Luy has the more credible list of lawmakers implicated in the pork barrel scam of Janet Lim Napoles. Speaking to radio dzMM, Levito Baligod said he was able to sift through Luy's digital records when he was still Luy's lawyer. He said he made separate lists based on the information, which was then verified by the pork scam whistle-blowers. One list has the names of government officials who allegedly received cash from Napoles, which the whistle-blowers can prove because they personally gave the money or witnessed the transaction. This list was submitted to the Department of Justice last year, Baligod said. Another list, he said, showed lawmakers who allegedly transacted with Mrs. Napoles but that the transactions could not be proven by the whistle-blowers. "Just because an official's name shows up in Benhur's files does not mean he was included in the list. We had to verify and validate with the whistle-blowers if they have personal knowledge of giving the kickbacks. If they have knowledge, then the official's name is included in the list," he said. Senate President Franklin Drilon has signed a subpoena for Benhur Luy to produce the reported digital files on the pork barrel scam and turn it over to the Senate Blue Ribbon committee. “The Blue Ribbon Committee already issued a subpoena duces tecum to produce these digital files,” Drilon told reporters. Anyone who refuses to follow a subpoena without a valid explanation may be cited for contempt.