Dead In The Water TUASON ADMITS GIVING JINGGOY, ENRILE SHARES FROM PORK BARREL FUNDS SCAM

By: InterAksyon.com | News5

February 7, 2014 4:16 PM

(UPDATED – 5:21 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines – Ruby Tuason, one of those charged with plunder in connection with the alleged pork barrel scam, implicated in her sworn statement senators Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile in the multibillion-peso racket purportedly carried out through shell foundations controlled by Janet Lim-Napoles.

This is what Department of Justice (DOJ) Leila de Lima confirmed to reporters on Friday, adding that Tuason, former aide of former President and current Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, also admitted in her affidavit that she was the conduit of the pork kickbacks intended for the senators.

“This is what I call slam dunk evidence,” De Lima said.

Earlier on Thursday, Senator Estrada said in an interview that Tuason could testify as long as she wants, “but I’m very confident she will not say anything against me.”

On Friday, told about de Lima’s revelation of the gist of Tuason’s affidavit, Senator Estrada made a blanket denial of all allegations.

According to the DOJ chief, it is likewise stated in Tuason’s affidavit that she personally handed the kickbacks to Jinggoy and Jessica “Gigi” Reyes, the former chief of staff of Enrile.

“Several times po siya na naghatid ng pera kina Senator Jinggoy Estrada and Senator Juan Ponce Enrile pero karamihan po ng para kay Senator Juan Ponce Enrile ay through the chief of staff, Atty. Gigi Reyes,” De Lima said.

[She delivered money several times to Senator Jinggoy Estrada and Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile but most of the money intended for Enrile passed through the chief of staff, Atty. Gigi Reyes.]

De Lima said that according to Tuason, the kickbacks for Estrada were delivered straight to the Senate. “Sa Senate mismo dine-deliver at doon s’ya dumadaan sa parking para hindi raw ma-check [The kickbacks were delivered straight to the Senate and she passed through the parking area so it won’t be checked.]”

De Lima added that Tuason’s testimony was “very important,” and a “very crucial development.”

Tuason arrived in the country early Friday morning from California, where she was fetched by a DOJ-NBI team and where she had her affidavit authenticated by consular officials. The Senate Blue Ribbon panel set another hearing on the pork barrel scam on Feb. 13, inviting Tuason to the session.

Meanwhile, Levito Baligod, lawyer of the pork scam whistle-blowers, told reporters on Friday that Tuason did not only support the testimonies of the whistle-blowers but also gave additional information on how the kickbacks were disposed.

“Hindi lamang po sinusuportahan ang mga salaysay ng mga whistle-blowers kundi nagbigay pa siya ng karagdagang impormasyon patungkol po ‘yan sa disposition ng mga kickbacks na natanggap niya bilang isang conduit ng ilang legislators,” said Baligod.

According to Baligod, Tuason was the direct contact of Napoles concerning the priority development assistance fund (PDAF) of Enrile and Jinggoy.

“Siya po ang deretsong kausap ni Mrs. Napoles tungkol sa PDAF ni Senator Juan Ponce Enrile atsaka ‘yong chief of staff niya na si Atty. Gigi Reyes at ‘yong PDAF din ni Senator Jinggoy Estrada,” added Baligod.

(Photo caption: Ruby Tuason swears under oath before the Office of the Ombudsman that she made truthful statements in her affidavit on Friday, February 7, 2014. Krisken Jones/InterAksyon.com.)