Death threat spooked Ruby Tuason - ABS CBN News

MANILA - A death threat prompted Ruby Tuason to come out of hiding and reveal what she knows about the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam, according to her sworn statement submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Tuason, who is asking the Department of Justice (DOJ) to protect her, revealed in her February 4 statement made and sworn at the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco, California her transactions with Janet Lim Napoles and Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada.

She told head agent Daniel Daganzo, head of the NBI's International Operations Division, that she initially fled the Philippines for the US because of fears for her safety after the pork barrel scam became public.

However, her safety remained compromised in the US.

"I have received an anonymous phone call saying 'Huwag kang babaligtad at madedelikado ka.' I have also been getting calls from numbers not listed in my phone book," said Tuason.

She said she is voluntarily cooperating in the investigation on the pork barrel scam because she also wants to clear her conscience.

"I was deeply bothered when I found out that Janet Napoles was engaged in ghost transactions with the government involving the PDAF [Priority Development Assistance Fund] of Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile and the Malampaya fund," Tuason said.

"It is only right that I cooperate and herein express that I am willing to return to the Philippine governments the amounts that I may have received from these transactions," she added.

She also explained her reason for applying for admission in the government's Witness Protection Program. "I know that once the people I have implicated get a copy of this sworn statement, my life and my security will be in danger, including that of my children and close members of my family."

Asked if she knew anyone who will harm her and her family, Tusaon replied," All those covered in the investigation and the people close to them are capable of harming me and/or my family."

Meeting Napoles, Estrada, Enrile

In her sworn statement, Tuason said she first met Napoles in 2004, when the businesswoman wanted to buy her house in Bel-Air, Makati.

Napoles told Tuason that she was into government contracts and wanted Tuason to introduce her to Senator Jinggoy Estrada and other politicians.

She said Napoles offered a commission for every deal she is able to close with politicians Tuason can refer.

Tuason and Napoles also invested in a company involved in beachfront properties, and Napoles even borrowed a personal check from Tuason for a downplayment on a condominium unit in Taguig City.

According to her sworn statement, Tuason helped Napoles when the latter's mother died and later attended Mass together in her office at the Discovery Suites in Mandaluyong City.

Tuason corroborated the statements of other whistleblowers in the case by confirming that she picked up the commission "shares" of Estrada and Enrile from Napoles.

Although she is neither a direct employee of Senators Estrada nor Enrile, she personally knows the son of former President Joseph Estrada because she once served as social welfare secretary of his father.

"I also know Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, we have been godparents in a wedding. His chief of staff, Atty. Gigi Reyes, and I were friends even before I met Ms. Napoles," Tuason said.

She said she first got directly involved in the pork barrel scam in 2004 when she told Senator Estrada that Napoles wanted to meet him with regard to his PDAF budget.

Estrada, at first, refused to meet Napoles but changed his mind after the businesswoman promised to give him 40% commission for every business transaction, according to her sworn statement.

Napoles also allegedly promised to give partial advance payments when the senator makes requests at the Department of Budget and Management as well as the release of a Special Allotment Release Order. Full payment is made to Estrada upon release of Notice of Cash Allotment, Tuason said.

Estrada allegedly first agreed to allot P37.5 million of his PDAF through Napoles but the transaction was cancelled and the lawmaker returned P5.7 million in cash that Tuason turned over to Napoles.

However, the transaction was later completed through another conduit, with P11.97 million delivered to a house in Dasmarinas Village, Makati City, Tuason said, citing the accounting records of whistleblower Benhur Luy.

"Senator Jinggoy Estrada was able to complete transactions involving his PDAF with Janet Napoles because the latter paid the share of Senator Estrada," Tuason said.

She said she personally delivered all the commissions of Estrada in Greenhills, San Juan, or in his office at the Senate.

"I was instructed to pass through the entrance to the senator's parking space so that my bag containing the money will not be opened," she said.

She said Napoles and Estrada personally met during the wake of the late actor Rudy Fernandez in 2008, and the senator later allegedly started dealing directly with Napoles.

Tuason said she relayed Napoles' offer to Enrile, through his chief of staff Gigi Reyes, in 2004.

Tuason said she got Enrile's share from Napoles and gave the money to Reyes, who picked it up in Tuason's house or in restaurants.

"I remember occasions that Senator Juan Ponce Enrile would join us, when we are almost done, for a cup of coffee," she said.

Reyes directly went to Napoles after they got introduced to each other, Tuason said.

Tuason went to the NBI on Monday, where she met whistleblower Benhur Luy to confirm details in the case.

She has promised to attend the Senate hearing on the pork barrel scam on Thursday and vowed to reveal everything she knows.

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