Maniolas

Cunanan denies involvement in pork barrel scam. On-leave Technology Resource Center Director-General Dennis Cunanan told the Senate blue ribbon committee on Thursday, March 6, that he never received any kickbacks from the alleged P10 billion pork barrel scam. “Kung meron man ako, bakit hindi ko aaminin? Lalo na sa sitwasyon ngayon,” a teary-eyed Cunanan said. Benjie Castro

Despite his denial that he received kickbacks from the multi-billion-peso pork barrel fund scam, the testimony of on-leave Technology Resource Center director general Dennis Cunanan was strong enough to prove the guilt of the senators implicated in the anomaly, one of his lawyers said.

“In fact, meron siyang mga naipakitang dokumento na nagpapatunay na yung mga senador mismo ang nage-endorso. Sa mga endorsement letter na yun, nakapangalan na dun, nakasaad na kung anong mga foundations at NGOs (non-government organizations) ang papupuntahan ng kanilang PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund),” lawyer Odessa Bernardo said in a phone patch interview with Jiggy Manicad aired on GMA News’ “Quick Response Team (QRT), Thursday afternoon.
 

Cunanan, the new provisional state witness in the P10-billion pork barrel scam, appeared for the first time at the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on the anomaly, Thursday.

“Lahat po ng project proposals nila, nakalagay, ‘project discriptions’. Wrong spelling po. Nakalagay, ‘i’ sa halip na ‘e’. Lahat po sila,” Cunanan said. 

Revilla, Estrada and Enrile allegedly chose the TRC as implementing agency for their pork-funded projects. Revilla and Estrada had earlier denied transacting with Cunanan. They also denied talking to him on the phone.

“Ito (endorsement letters from Revilla, Estrada and Enrile) ang magpapatunay na hindi ang implementing agencies ang may kasalanan, wala silang kinalaman sa PDAF scam na ito. Kumpiyansa kami sa testimonya niya (Cunanan),” Bernardo added.

The teary-eyed Cunanan denied the allegation.

Bernardo said Luy’s revelation will not affect the strength of her client’s testimony.

“Ang sinabi ni Benhur, ibinigay niya yung paper bag kay Evelyn De Leon, nasabi rin niya na ang diretsong nakikipag-transact diumano kay Cunanan ay si Evelyn De Leon, at hindi siya…pina-prepare sa kanya yung bag, inilagay niya sa table at hindi naman niya nakita in between kung ano na ang nangyari di ba, so mayroong lapse of time,” Bernardo pointed out.

“Hindi naman dine-deny ng kliyente namin sa testimonya kanina [na nagpunta siya ]sa JLN office, so wala akong nakikitang inconsistency doon. And, in fact, naniniwala naman kami na hindi makakaapekto yun sa testimonya ng aming kliyente, kasi ang kanyang testimony ay para patunayan na ang tatlong senador ay involved doon sa PDAF scam,”she added.

Bernardo also pointed out that issues regarding Cunanan’s travels abroad as well as his alleged expensive property at White Plains subdivision were all irrelevant to the pork scam probe.

“’Yan namang kasing mga issue na ‘yan, side issue na lang ‘yan e. Inilalayo na dun sa main issue sa hearing sa Senado,” Bernardo said.

Nonetheless, Bernardo said Cunanan had already proven with supporting documents he submitted to the Senate that his travels and alleged White Plains property have nothing to do with kickbacks he supposedly received.

“Meron naman siyang naibigay na certification sa Senate secretariat na nagpapatunay na yung mga travel niya ay sagot ng organization yung mga gastos sa eroplano, pati ang kanyang mga hotel expenses,” Bernardo said.

Bernardo was referring to a certification from youth organization Junior Chamber International (JCI), which said the organization covered Cunanan’s travels.

Cunanan also clarified during the hearing that he was just renting the house at White Plains from his brother.