Whistleblower Benhur K. Luy on Monday told the Sandiganbayan that some documents related to transactions in the Priority Development Assistance Fund scam had been “shredded.”

Luy made the statement during the continuation of the trial before the Sandiganbayan First Division on the malversation and graft cases against Janet Lim Napoles and former Technology Resource Center director general Antonio Ortiz, among others.

During cross-examination, Luy was asked by defense counsel about a daily disbursement report amounting to P200,000 for a House lawmaker at the time.

When asked if he could present a copy of the voucher, Luy said the documents were left at the JLN headquarters in Pasig City when he departed from the company.

Asked whether he personally saw the documents being destroyed or shredded, Luy said he only learned about it from fellow witnesses and former JLN employees Marina Sula and Mary Arlene Baltazar.

The whistleblower confirmed that the DDRs and documents he printed came from his external hard drive covering transactions from 2004 to 2010.

When pressed by the defense on whether Ortiz received P420,000 as reflected in the DDR, Luy said this was based on the commission’s records “that speak” to the Technology and Livelihood Resource Center.

However, he admitted he could not present a voucher as proof.

“You were only told it was shredded in the JLN office?” the defense counsel asked.

Luy answered that this was correct and that the information was relayed to him by Baltazar and Sula.

The defense continued to question whether Luy had confirmation receipts or vouchers to support his claims that kickbacks or commissions were received.

Luy said the documents remained at the JLN office.

“Now I do not have that voucher that bears the signature of government officials or lawmakers. I do not have with me the copy,” he said.

“This document we are talking about, you were informed it was shredded?” the defense counsel asked.

Luy answered that he was informed by Sula and Baltazar, who were left at the office at the time.

Another defense counsel focused on Luy’s knowledge of the alleged role of Evelyn de Leon, former president of Philippine Social Development Foundation Inc., in the scheme. When asked if he had documentary proof against De Leon, Luy said it was reflected in the DDR in April 2008.

The defense also asked whether Luy requested the National Bureau of Investigation or the Ombudsman to subpoena the documents. Luy said he could not recall making such a request.

He said he informed the NBI that the documents were in the office but did not know if any action was taken.

The trial is set to resume on 16 March, with Luy expected to return to the witness stand.