Palace expects nothing but truth from Tuason's Senate testimony

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang said it wants to hear nothing but the truth from potential state witness Ruby Tuason when she appears at the Senate hearing on the multi-billion-peso pork barrel scam on Thursday.

"Wala pong iba kundi ang katotohanan at 'yan din po siguro ang nais ng ating mga kababayan," Communications Sec. Sonny Coloma said at a televised press briefing on Wednesday afternoon.

Coloma assured that since there is a high level of public interest on the controversy, there is already a sense of urgency among concerned government agencies to uncover the truth behind the alleged scam.

"Meron tayong kabatiran na ang isyung ito ay napakalaki at napakalawak ng interes ng sambayanan dahil ang sangkot dito ay yung mismong paggamit ng pondo ng bayan na nanggaling sa buwis na binabayad ng mga mamamayan," Coloma said.

The Palace official reiterated that President Benigno Aquino III wanted evidence-based and fair investigation results from the government agencies.

A former employee of former President Joseph Estrada, Tuason was among those charged before the Office of the Ombudsman for their alleged involvement in the diversion of pork barrel funds to fake non-government organizations supposedly set up by detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.

Tuason had confessed that she delivered kickbacks to Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile.

She returned from abroad late last week and expressed willingness to return her kickbacks and divulge her knowledge regarding the scam.

Tuason is expected to testify at the hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on the pork barrel scam scheduled on Thursday.