Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, Chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, questions Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala during the inquiry Thursday on the alleged P10-B Priority Development Assistance Fund scam involving the Janet Lim-Napoles group at the Senate Session Hall in Pasay City.(upper photo power point presentation by Senate. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Ruby Tuason, a potential state witness in the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam, will undergo normal procedures in the case, Malacañang said Saturday.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said there are requirements Tuason must meet to become a state witness in the case.
“Meron tayong batas at standard na tinitingnan (We have laws and standards to observe). Kung pumasok sila sa standard, pwede sila mag-avail of the witness protection program. This does not apply only to Ruby Tuason. For any criminal offense where a person who participated in the crime (and) whose participation is not the most guilty, the law allows them to testify and shed truth to the matter,” he said on state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
He said that even in the United States, the law allows whistleblowers to “help facilitate and expedite the revelation and uncovering of (the) truth” in a judicial proceeding.
But Lacierda stressed there are procedures and requirements for one to become a state witness.
Tuason returned to the Philippines on Friday and offered to testify on the PDAF mess.
For now, Lacierda said the Ombudsman is evaluating Tuason’s testimony. (MNS)