FORMER ESTRADA AIDE RUBY TUASON TURNS STATE WITNESS IN PORK SCAM

By Ernie Reyes, InterAksyon.com;Michelle Mediana, News5 | PNA

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE3 -2:58 p.m.) Ruby Tuason, a former aide of former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada has agreed to turn witness in the P10-billion pork barrel scam that was allegedly masterminded by detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.

Justice Secretary Leila M. De Lima on Friday confirmed that Tuason, one of those charged with plunder in connection with the alleged Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) misuse, applied for and was provisionally granted WPP (witness protection program) coverage to turn state witness in the pork barrel scam cases.

Detained businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles is the alleged “brains” behind the P10-billion pork barrel and the P900-million Malampaya fund scams.

De Lima said Tuason, who is now in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), executed her sworn statement, which was authenticated before the Consul General’s Office in San Francisco, California.

She added that Tuason returned to the country Friday from the United States to submit and reaffirm her sworn statement before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the pending cases before that office.

For her part, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said that Tuason’s application to turn state witness will be “conditional.”

Morales added that Tuason’s appearance before the Ombudsman is for the purpose of reaffirming her sworn affidavit.

Back in Manila Friday morning, Tuason was apparently treading cautiously and sparing in her words. She said her decision to turn state witness was prompted by several reasons, primarily her concern for her family and her desire to redeem her name.

Sources said Tuason started sending feelers in January about her willingness to cooperate and provide information on the rackets that attended use of the PDAF and the Malampaya Fund. The authorities worked on those feelers and after some exchange, a team flew to the United States to fetch Tuason.

Her affidavit as authenticated by the consular officials in LA must be affirmed and subscribed under oath before the Ombudsman, which has the final say on her still-conditional acceptance into the roster of state witnesses.

Import of Tuason testimony

According to a News5 source, Tuason’s testimony is crucial because if whistleblower Benhur Luy provided documents and personal knowledge on the Napoles side of the scam, it was Tuason who allegedly served as the conduit between Napoles and senators, This is a key detail in her affidavit, said the source, and will allow the prosecutors to stop hoping for the seemingly impossible task of making Napoles spill the beans on her co-conspirators.

Meanwhile, the sworn information given by Tuason bolstered the testimony of Luy before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing the pork barrel scam, the whistleblowers’ lawyer Atty. Levi Balingod said.

In an interview on Radyo 5, Balingod said: “Sapat na ang testimonya ni Ruby Tuason upang madiin sa pork barrel scam sina Senator Jinggoy Estrada, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile at kanyang dating chief of staff, Atty. Gigi Reyes.”

“Matutukoy na kung sino ang iba pang conduits ng pondo [The other conduits of the fund can also be identified],” Baligod said.

Blue Ribbon sets hearing on Feb. 13

At the Senate, Tuason’s return prompted the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, headed by Senator Teofisto Guingona, to set the date for her testimony on February 13.

In a text message, Guingona said: “The Blue Ribbon committee will resume its investigation on PDAF scam on February 13 and will invite Ruby Tuason to shed more light on the issue.”

Guingona learned that Tuason has returned to the country from San Francisco, California, where she was picked-up by an NBI task force, which secured her from NAIA Terminal 2 to the Department of Justice.

Tuason is former protocol officer of former President Joseph Estrada and allegedly served as the contact of Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, who together with Senators Juan Ponce-Enrile and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., was among those charged with plunder in the siphoning off of billions of public funds to non-existent non-government organizations.