Miriam wants probe on Senate security agency that allowed Tuason's visits - GMA News

Ruby Tuason, whistleblowers at Senate 'pork' probe. Potential state witness Ruby Tuason (center), flanked by whistleblower Benhur Luy and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, testifies at the Senate inquiry on Thursday, February 13, into the alleged misuse by some lawmakers of the P10-B Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). Benjie Castro

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Thursday called for an investigation on the agency handling Senate security that allowed potential state witness Ruby Tuason to proceed to the office of Senator Jinggoy Estrada without inspection.

"I ask the Senate to investigate this security agency. These people are not doing their jobs," Santiago said during the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam.

Santiago made this remark after Tuason said "nobody ever bothered" to inspect her when she carried bagfuls of money into the Senate premises for delivery to Estrada's office.

Tuason said she visited the Senate at least twice in 2008, usually in the afternoon. She added that she used the side entrance of the Senate, which is reserved only for senators, to evade inspection.

She also belied Estrada's earlier statement that she delivered snacks, and not money, to his office.

"When I will bring food, I pass through the main entrance. I don't pass through the side. Hindi naman problema iyon," she said.

Estrada, who is among the three senators implicated in the pork barrel scam, had earlier asked the Senate sergeant-at-arms to make public all closed circuit television (CCTV) footage showing Tuason's visits.

The other senators facing plunder complaint in connection with the supposed anomaly are Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile and Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. — KBK, GMA News

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