DOJ: Tuason testimony bolsters case - Solar News PH

By Anjo Alimario

Benhur Luy started out as a lone voice when he first blew the lid off the alleged multi-billion peso pork barrel scam operated by his cousin, Janet Lim-Napoles.

Afterwards, others came forward.

But, so far, the attendance of Ruby Tuason at the Senate hearing was the best vindication of what he has been saying all along.

For him, it was like an answered prayer: Someone close to the implicated senators stepped forward to corroborate the whistle blowers' testimony.

Luy said, in Filipino: "Until now, I had been praying for the Lord to bother the conscience of those who have yet to step forward and tell the truth."

Luy said, in gratitude, that Tuason's testimony filled the gap needed to connect Napoles with the respondent-senators: "I thank her for confirming that she received money from us, and also for confirming to the inquiry what she told me, that the lawmaker received money."

Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila De Lima said she agrees that Tuason's revelations in her sworn affidavit strengthened the plunder cases over the pork scam: "We do believe the testimonies of Benhur and the other whistle blowers ahead of Mrs Tuazon were, by themselves, quite strong already. We are glad that this appearance by Mrs. Tuason strengthens our case even more."

De Lima added that a third batch of related pork barrel cases will follow, the nature of which may depend on the Ombudsman's action on the first two batches of cases already filed and now under preliminary investigation.

Sec. De Lima explained that many of the 38 respondents in the first batch had already filed counter-affidavits.

When asked if the new names mentioned in Tuason's affidavit will be included in the charge sheet, De Lima said the investigators will still weigh the circumstances.

"There is Matt Ranillo, Maya Santos ... It's not yet clear to the National Bureau of Investigation if they were involved in the subject cases covered from 2007 to 2009. But since they have now been named, we are including them in the case build-up."

Luy was the first to mention the name of actor Matt Ranillo as one of those who received money from Napoles on behalf of Senator Jinggoy Estrada.

There came a point, he narrated, when Napoles wanted to get rid of Ranillo and transact directly with a member of the staff of Estrada, Pauline Labayen, which basically dovetailed with events narrated by Tuason.

De Lima added that DOJ is now being more "choosy" of those who want to turn state witness, saying the testimonies of the six whistle blowers and, now, Tuason, are strong enough to stand in trial.

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