Tuason to testify in Senate probe

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has given the go signal for Ruby Tuason's testimony at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigation on the pork barrel scam.

At a televised briefing, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said they have no reason to decline the Senate invitation and that they have already informed Tuason on the matter.

While her reply is still unknown, De Lima said Tuason needs to testify in the Senate probe as part of her commitment to be a state witness in the pork barrel scam controversy.

"[S]he would have no choice because precisely, that is one of her undertakings under the [Witness Protection Program] provisional admission that she binds herself to cooperate and participate in any proper proceedings related to these cases. Kasama po diyan yung Senate Blue Ribbon Committee," De Lima said.

Tuason, a former employee of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and Manila City Mayor Joseph Estrada, returned to the Philippines on Friday and became a "provisional" state witness after expressing her willingness to reveal her knowledge on the pork barrel and Malampaya fund scams.

She was among those charged with plunder after being accused of facilitating the diversion of the pork barrel funds of Estrada and Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile to the dummy non-government organizations of detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.

Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chair Teofisto Guingona III said Tuason will be invited to the February 13 hearing to shed light on the issue.

Depending on the questions, de Lima said Tuason would bare her knowledge in her Senate testimony.

"As far as DOJ is concerned, it's a go," de Lima said.