by FFE PH News Staff

‘Pork barrel queen’ Janet Lim-Napoles’ lawyer Alfredo Villamor announced that they are set to call 18 defence witnesses for next year’s trial. He added that the defence may also call on Janet and her brother Reynald Lim if he falls into custody.

This was announced during the pre-trial conference at the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 on Monday. Villamor added that several priests make up the defence witnesses: Monsignor Josefino Ramirez, Father Paul Yang, Father Peter Guo, Father Joseph Gao, Father John Ma and Father Paul Do.

The other named defence witnesses for the February 2014 trial are Patricio Asoy, William Lim, Abelardo Gernale, Jetron Bande, Madylon Habana, Ana Marie Lim, Fernando Masayon, Feliciano Alcantara, Expedito Rosales and Peter John Castillo.

Meanwhile, the prosecution will soon present 15 witnesses against Janet, including eight which were already presented during the bail hearings. One of the new witnesses will be someone from the Metrobank Ortigas branch that will testify to the ‘transfer of funds from Luy’ to Napoles’ company.

Janet and her brother were accused of illegal detention by Janet’s cousin, Benhur Luy. Benhur was also key to the disclosure of the Php10 billion pork barrel scam that involves several prominent lawmakers.