More ‘pork’ scam players want to talk

MANILA, Philippines - Apparently inspired by potential state witness Ruby Tuason, more individuals linked to the pork barrel scam are now reportedly interested in testisfying.

Among them are Dennis Cunanan, general manager of the Technology Resource Center (TRC), and actor Mat Ranillo III.

“We welcome that. Let us see what would be the value of his testimony if and when he cooperates,” Justice Secretary Leila de Lima told reporters when asked about Ranillo.

Ranillo is not yet a respondent in the case and can be admitted as an ordinary witness.

Cunanan is one of the respondents in the criminal complaint filed against several officials and personalities in connection with the multibillion-peso fund scam.

Also named respondents in the plunder and malversation complaint were Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile and Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.

De Lima said she had received reports that Ranillo, who lives abroad, is willing to come out in the open and cooperate with investigators.

At last Thursday’s Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing on the misuse of lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), Tuason said Ranillo had dealings with alleged scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

Benhur Luy, Napoles’ relative and former employee, had linked Ranillo to the pork barrel scam during an earlier Senate hearing. The actor had reportedly introduced Napoles to senators linked to the scam.

He was reported to have signed vouchers for the kickbacks supposedly received by Estrada and his mother, former first lady and senator Loi Estrada. 

Ranillo had submitted some of the vouchers to the court in his legal dispute with JLN Corp., a company owned by Napoles.

De Lima also said there was no indication that Tuason was being coached when she spoke last Thursday before the Blue Ribbon committee chaired by Sen. Teofisto Guingona III.

“What I am trying to say is that it is actually plausible and it makes her more credible that they (senators) could not force her to give details that she could not provide because that is not her job to count kickbacks. Her job is just to deliver and she would get her commission,” De Lima said.

The DOJ chief also believed that Tuason – former social secretary of Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada when he was still president – may have shown some ambivalence when being questioned by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV because she was being just “overly cautious.”

Tuason only said she had an “inkling” when asked pointblank by Trillanes if she had clear knowledge of Enrile’s illegal transactions with Napoles.

“This proves that we are not coaching our witnesses,” De Lima said, debunking the younger Estrada’s allegation that Tuason was being coached.

Despite her failure to directly answer Trillanes’ question, Tuason had documentary evidence like requests for endorsement of projects to pin down Enrile, De Lima said.

“The overall circumstantial evidence is who is Atty. Gigi Reyes. She is perceived to be very close and very trusted by Senator Enrile. We are looking at several transactions and several deliveries, not just one or two,” she added.

Another witness?

The camp of TRC’s Cunanan, meanwhile, is “exploring the idea” of volunteering his service as state witness.

Cunanan’s lawyer Rey Roble said the TRC official should not have been linked to the scam because he had it investigated. Roble and Cunanan were at the NBI yesterday.

TRC is one of the government agencies that had reportedly transacted with bogus non-government organizations (NGO) of Napoles.

Earlier, Cunanan said he issued a memorandum in 2010 barring the TRC from entering into agreements with 44 dubious NGOs reportedly used as conduits for transferring PDAF funds.

“We will be submitting affidavits telling the truth,” Cunanan said.

President Aquino, for his part, voiced hopes yesterday the testimony of Tuason would lead to the adoption of tougher safeguards against embezzling of the country’s finances.

The President said information provided by Tuason and other witnesses could help lawmakers refine or amend laws to protect public funds.

“What we are looking into is the abuse of the system. Naturally, it is good for them to see in detail how the system is being exploited, so proper safeguards can be put up to prevent further abuse,” he said.

The President said he managed to catch parts of the televised Senate hearing Thursday and realized the extent of misuse of taxpayers’ money. With Aie Balagtas See, Aurea Calica