MANILA, Philippines - Senator Jinggoy Estrada wants pork barrel fund scam whistleblower Benhur Luy and his father’s former social welfare secretary Ruby Tuason to take the witness stand already so the anti-graft court could decide on his petition for bail.
In an interview with reporters Tuesday after a bail hearing at the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division, Jinggoy said the prosecution is delaying the proceedings by presenting irrelevant testimonies in the allegation that he pocketed more that P183 million in public funds.
“He does not have any knowledge that Luy delivered money to me or any person for that matter. Wala naman sinabi,” Estrada remarked after listening to the revelations of Ombudsman investigator Vic Escalante.
Estrada said the testimony of the graft investigation and prosecution officer (GIPO) favors him because the witness does not know anything as the accusation that he received kickbacks or commissions amounting to more than P50 million.
“Kahit piso wala naman siyang nalalaman na meron akong tinanggap as kickback or whatever,” he said, expressing confidence that he would eventually be granted temporary liberty.
“I’m pretty confident that I will be granted bail, kaya lang masyadong dinedelay mg prosecution yung ibang witnesses sa listahan nila who has more probative value kaya sana present nila ang malalakas na testigo na sinasabi nila - si Luy at Ruby Tuason, for the court to determine if I will be given bail or not,” Estrada added.
“Time in jail is time wasted,” he added believing that witnesses other than Luy and Tuason will not say anything new or substantial that would expedite the hearings and the Sandiganbayan’s decision on his motion for bail.
His father, former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada who also attended the bail hearing, agreed, believing that Escalante’s testimony caused “no damage at all” as the things he said were “all hearsay.”
Luy has taken the witness stand against Senator Ramon Revilla Jr., his former chief of staff Richard Cambe, and alleged pork barrel fund scam operator Janet Lim Napoles, at the Sandiganbayan First Division.