Ruby Tuason a 'perfect witness'

MANILA, Philippines - Pork scam whistleblower Ruby Tuason is the perfect witness with her damning testimony against Senator Jinggoy Estrada, senators said on Thursday in the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee's hearing on the public fund misuse.

"You are a perfect witness, a competent witness, an intelligent witness," Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago told Tuason, who said she personally handed over millions of pesos to Estrada in 2008, when she worked as an agent to businesswoman and alleged pork scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

Senator Teofisto Guingona III, chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee, said it was the first time someone testified that she handed money personally to a senator implicated in the scam.

"Ang sabi ni Secretary De Lima, ang inyo daw pong testimonya ay parang isang 'slam dunk.' Sa tingin ko, hindi lamang ito isang slam-dunk. Kung paninindigan po ninyo ang mga bagay na sasabihin ninyo, baka po isang three-point shot. Isang three-point shot na buzzer beater na, winning shot pa. (Secretary (Leila) De Lima said your testimony is a 'slam dunk.' I think this is not just a slam dunk. If you will stand by the things that you say, maybe this is a three-point shot. A three-point shot that's a buzzer beater and winning shot as well)," Guingona said.

Kickbacks handed to Jinggoy

Tuason, who worked as a social secretary of former President Joseph Estrada, said she delivered in 2008 a combined amount of at least P9 million to the senator, and at least two of those deliveries were made in the Senate building.

"It's usually in the afternoon; I never come in the morning," Tuason said, adding that a member of Senator Estrada's staff, later identified as either security aide Alfredo Delos Reyes or a certain 'Tani' would assist her in her delivery.

Senator Estrada earlier said Tuason only brought him pancit and not money in her visits in the Senate. Tuason said she used to bring assorted sandwiches to Senator Estrada, and during those times, she used the Senate building's main entrance. On top of her food deliveries, however, Tuason said she also personally delivered kickbacks to the senator, and she was escorted by either Delos Reyes or Tani from the parking lot directly to Senator Estrada's office, to avoid the main entrance's security checks.

"I would usually stay for a while," Tuason said, after Senator Estrada places the money on the floor near his desk.

She added that one night in 2008, she, together with Napoles and her husband, delivered P1 million to Senator Estrada in front of the Zirkoh comedy bar in Wilson Street., Greenhills, San Juan City, after the senator called and asked for cash.

Actor Mat Ranillo dragged into scam

Tuason said she was later dropped out of the scam after Napoles found a way to directly transact with Senator Estrada.

She said, however, that the senator never admitted to dealing directly with Napoles.

Tuason said she met Napoles in 2004 after her husband introduced them to each other. She said Napoles insisted that she be introduced to Senator Estrada, who initially said he didn't want to know the businesswoman. Napoles told Tuason to tell the senator about giving a 40-percent commission.

Tuason said she eventually had a project assigned to her, where she gave P5.7 million in commission to the senator, who took the money but returned it afterwards.

"I asked him why, he didn't say so I didn't pursue the matter... then after that, I heard that it was Mat Ranillo who did it," she said.

She said actor Ranillo delivered P11.97 million to Senator Estrada's former appointments staff Pauline Labayen in a house in Dasmariñas Village, Makati, owned by former first lady Loi Estrada's former aide Justa Tantoco. Tuason said she was not given projects for a long time until 2008.

Tuason said Napoles wanted Ranillo out to deal with Labayen directly. The actor later figured in a dispute with Napoles over a vehicle, and Ranillo presented the vouchers they use as evidence in court.

At this point, Benhur Luy said Napoles instructed him to create new vouchers to undermine Ranillo's move. The case was eventually settled, Luy said.

Kickbacks delivered to JPE's chief of staff

Aside from her testimonies against Senator Estrada, Tuason said she also delivered money to Gigi Reyes, the chief of staff of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile. Tuason said she told Napoles she was close to Reyes, then Napoles said she wanted to meet her.

"I never got to talk with Senator Enrile about his PDAF (priority development assistance fund)," she added. 

Tuason said she would meet Reyes in various restaurants to deliver the senator's kickbacks. She said Enrile had an authorization letter and he had full trust in Reyes.

Luy added that he also dealt with Enrile's deputy chief of staff, Jose Antonio Evangelista, sending him emails of memoranda, project listings and endorsement letters.

'Yolanda'

Tuason's testimony came after she applied to be a state witness in the P10-billion PDAF scam. She said she went back to the Philippines from the United States to testify because she was bothered by her conscience, especially when she saw reports about the massive destruction caused by typhoon Yolanda to the Philippines.

"Hiyang hiya ako sa sarili ko (I was so ashamed of myself). I felt so guilty. I don't want to die with 80 million Filipinos hating me. I don't want to die with my grandchildren being ashamed of me," she said.

Tuason added that she is willing to return the P40 million she got in commissions to the government.

"I only have one asset which is my house. I'll have to sell my house," she said. The house is located in the posh Dasmariñas Village in Makati City. 

She said she has also approached Senator Estrada to help him, but he said he could not do anything for her.

'I'd rather die'

Santiago said Tuason fulfills all the requirements to being a state witness since she has a direct testimony that can be corroborated, she is not the most guilty and she has not been convicted of any crimes involving moral turpitude.

"You are an eyewitness. That is, in the words of the secretary of justice, slam dunk evidence," Santiago said.

Witness Protection Program chief Martin Meñez said they have given Tuason a provisional admission to the program, and they are just waiting for the Office of the Ombudsman's decision on her standing.

Asked by Senator Sonny Angara on what she would feel if her application to the witness protection program is rejected, Tuason said she would probably have health problems in prison since she is hypertensive.

"I pray to the Lord that he take me. I'd rather die," she said.