Jinggoy asks anti-graft court to summon Senate exec

MANILA, Philippines - The camp of detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada is asking the Sandiganbayan fifth division to issue a subpoena duces tecum to the Senate sergeant-at-arms that will require the latter to personally bring to court closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage that shows the person who resembles Ruby Tuason, a state witness in the pork barrel scam.

The two-page request signed by Estrada’s counsels led by Jose Flaminiano also asked the court to issue a subpoena ad testicandum to Maj. Gen. Jose Balajadia Jr. for the latter and/or his representative to personally appear in court on Oct. 12, 13 and 14.

Accused Estrada is asking for Balajadia or representative to bring the “2008 CCTV footages review and photographs for the ground, fifth and sixth floor of the Senate building, examined in the presence of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee dated Feb. 13, 2014 (hearing on the PDAF scam) and in compliance with the order of Senate President Franklin Drilon.”

The CCTV footages and photographs will reportedly be used to determine “a person that resembles Tuason at the aforementioned areas at certain dates and time” and for the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms to testify on matters pertinent to such documents and to the present case.

In past interviews, Estrada claimed that Tuason never delivered money to him.

Estrada, charged with plunder in connection with the pork barrel scam, is detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center at Camp Crame, in Quezon City.