Jinggoy lawyers not allowed access to other ‘pork’ respondents’ affidavits

 News
Apr 182014
 
The Office of the Ombudsman has denied the camp of Senator Jinggoy Estrada access to the affidavits of other respondents in the plunder complaint filed against him in connection with the alleged pork barrel scam.

In a text message on Friday, lawyer Alexis Abastillas, Estrada’s legal spokesman, confirmed that the Ombudsman denied their request to be “furnished a copy of the affidavits of new witnesses, whose testimonies were used” in the resolution recommending plunder charges against the senator.

“We have received it. It’s a real denial of due process,” Abastillas accused.

He added that their camp has already appealed this decision, through the motion of reconsideration they filed last April 7.

Last month, Estrada’s lawyers asked the Ombudsman for copies of sworn affidavits of government witnesses Ruby Tuason and Dennis Cunanan.

On April 1, the Office of the Ombudsman announced that it has decided to charge Senators Estrada, Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. and Juan Ponce Enrile with plunder for allegedly pocketing millions in their pork barrel funds through a scam supposedly engineered by detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.

Both Estrada and Revilla have already filed their respective motion seeking the dismissal of the plunder charges against them, claiming the accusations have no basis.

On the other hand, Enrile had not given any statements to the media since the release of the Ombudsman’s recommendation.  –– KBK, GMA News

Tuason to appeal immunity application

 Entertainment
Apr 062014
 
Tuason to appeal immunity application

State witness Ruby Tuason reads her opening statement during the Feb. 13, 2014 Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the alleged pork barrel scam as Justice Secretary Leila del Lima (right) and whistle-blower Benhur Luy (left) listen. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The camp of Ruby Tuason plans to appeal her application for immunity from lawsuit before the Office of the Ombudsman after she was indicted for plunder charges. Tuason’s lawer Dennis Manalo said they were not surprised by the Ombudsman’s ruling given Tuason’s admission that she was involved in the pork barrel scam. He said they have five days to file a motion for reconsideration to resolve her pending application for immunity. Tuason, who is under the witness protection program on a provisional basis, is currently out of the country. “We are hoping that in the assessment and evaluation of Tuason’s application for immunity, things will turn around for the better insofar as she’s concerned,” Manalo said. “It is Mrs. Tuason herself who said a crime was committed and she was involved in the commission of that crime. She admits probable cause but what she is saying is that she is entitled to benefits of immunity as provided for under the law because she voluntarily stepped forward with her statement and cooperated with government in the prosecution of this case,” he added.(MNS)

Jinggoy to Ombudsman: Don't give in to pressure, publicity in ‘pork’ probe

 News
Mar 232014
 
Jinggoy to Ombudsman: Don't give in to pressure, publicity in ‘pork’ probe

Senator Jinggoy Estrada said Sunday that he hopes the Office of the Ombudsman will not be swayed by pressure and publicity in its investigation into the Priority Development Assistance Fund scam. In a statement released Sunday, Estrada said he–and fellow senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Bong Revilla Jr.–”were continuously crucified and demonized in various forums: mass media, cyberspace, including the Senate blue ribbon committee.”  Witnesses have linked him to the scam. Ruby Tuason, who used to work for former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada and former senator Loi Estrada, testified in February that she delivered bags of money to Senator Estrada’s office.  Earlier this month, Technology Research Center director general Dennis Cunanan said Estrada and Revilla chose the allegedly bogus NGOs that received their PDAF allocations. Cunanan is on leave from the TRC and, like Tuason, faces plunder complaints over the scam. Tremendous pressure, unfair publicity “I wish that the Ombudsman will not give in to the tremendous pressure and unfair publicity generated by this controversy with extreme prejudice against me and my two colleagues,” he said. “I also hope that she will not be rushed into making decisions and that she observes the proper legal processes, including the rights of the respondents during preliminary investigation,” Estrada added. He added his counter-affidavit to a plunder complaint filed against him in September should show Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales that “truly there is no plunder case or any case to speak of.”  Estrada, who has denied involvement in a supposed scam that allegedly diverted PDAF Read More …

Mat Ranillo willing to return to PHL to help in probe of Estradas

 News
Feb 212014
 
Mat Ranillo willing to return to PHL to help in probe of Estradas

Actor Mat Ranillo III, who has been tagged as having a key role in the pork barrel scam, is willing to return to the country and testify on the plunder case, according to his sister Suzette. In an interview aired on GMA News TV’s Balitanghali, Suzette said: “Mat is willing to come home naman as long as protektado ang safety niya.” Ranillo, who played Christ and San Lorenzo Ruiz in the movies among other lead roles, has been linked to the pork barrel scam for allegedly signing vouchers for the kickbacks supposedly received by Senator Jinggoy Estrada and his mother, former First Lady and Senator Loi Estrada. Ranillo was mentioned again on national TV by whistleblower Ruby Tuason during her testimony on Thursday. Some of the vouchers were submitted in court by Ranillo in his legal dispute against JLN Corporation, a company owned by alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles. Earlier, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said she was told the justice department has received feelers from Ranillo but refused to give other details. “Naririnig ko rin na parang may feelers from Mr. Mat Ranillo so we would welcome that. Let’s see kung ano iyong magiging value ng kanyang testimony if and when he cooperates,” De Lima said. However, the legal counsel for the whistleblowers in the P10-billion pork barrel fund scam is not in favor of making actor Ranillo a state witness, saying it is unlikely that the actor had personal transactions with the senators implicated in the Read More …

Senate panel to summon Mat Ranillo, Loi’s former aide to next ‘pork’ hearing

 Entertainment
Feb 182014
 
Senate panel to summon Mat Ranillo, Loi’s former aide to next ‘pork’ hearing

Blue Ribbon Committee chair, Sen. Teofisto Guingona III and Justice Secretary Leila De Lima reconcile after Guingona earlier admits being “disappointed” for not bringing whistle blowers during the pork barrel scam probe at the Senate on Tuesday (Sept. 24, 2013). Both parties shake hands after. (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – The Senate blue ribbon committee will summon actor Mat Ranillo III and Justa Tantoco, former First Lady Loi Estrada’s ex-aide, to its next hearing on the alleged pork barrel scam. During Thursday’s hearing, Senator Teofisto Guingona III, blue ribbon panel chairman, approved a motion by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV to summon these personalities. Also to be summoned are Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chairperson Zenaida Ducut and Jess Santos, former lawyer of former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo. The Senate blue ribbon panel will also subpoena court documents related to a 2005 legal dispute between Ranillo and JLN Corporation, owned by alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles. Earlier during the hearing, principal pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy said Ranillo signed vouchers to show that pork barrel kickbacks have already been received by Senator Jinggoy Estrada and his mother, former First Lady Loi Estrada. Luy also said Ranillo submitted some of these vouchers in his legal dispute against JLN Corporation. In her affidavit, potential state witness Ruby Tuason said that Tantoco’s house in Dasmariñas Village in Makati was once used as a drop-off for his pork barrel kickbacks. Ducut and Santos are meanwhile being tagged in the alleged misuse of some Read More …

No direct ‘pork’ talks with Enrile, only with his former aide – Ruby Tuason

 Entertainment
Feb 172014
 
No direct ‘pork’ talks with Enrile, only with his former aide – Ruby Tuason

State witness Ruby Tuason reads her opening statement during the Feb. 13, 2014 Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the alleged pork barrel scam as Justice Secretary Leila del Lima (right) and whistle-blower Benhur Luy (left) listen. (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – Potential pork barrel scam Ruby Tuason on Thursday said she never got to directly transact with Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile involving pork barrel funds. During her testimony before the Senate blue ribbon committee, Tuason said she only discussed pork barrel transactions with Enrile’s former chief-of-staff, Gigi Reyes. “He [Enrile] never talked to me about PDAF [priority development assistance fund]. He would arrive, have coffee, and pick up Attorney Reyes,” Tuason said. Also, she said she often delivered pork commissions to Reyes at fancy restaurants, such as Mamou, Gourmand and L’Opera. On Monday, Enrile said he never authorized Reyes to discuss pork barrel transactions with anyone, including Tuason. He, however, admitted to meeting with Tuason in Mamou once over lunch either in late 2006 or early 2007. He said Reyes was present during the meeting “to record the details of what is being discussed.” Enrile, Tuason and Reyes are currently facing plunder raps before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly benefiting from the pork barrel scam supposedly engineered by controversial businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles. (MNS)

Miriam: Enrile's presence in Tuason-Gigi Reyes meeting enough to prove conspiracy

 News
Feb 152014
 
Miriam: Enrile's presence in Tuason-Gigi Reyes meeting enough to prove conspiracy

Miriam grills Ruby Tuason on ‘pork’. Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago questions potential state witness Ruby Tuason during the continuation of the Senate blue ribbon committee’s inquiry on the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam on Thursday, February 13. Benjie Castro The mere presence of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile during the meetings between his former chief of staff Atty. Gigi Reyes and Ruby Tuason over alleged pork barrel scam deal was enough proof of conspiracy. Santiago was referring to Tuason’s affidavit that was one of the subjects in Thursday’s Senate probe on the supposed P10-billion pork barrel fund anomaly. In a news release on Saturday, Santiago’s camp quoted the affidavit as saying Tuason had coffee with Gigi in the presence of a “silent” Enrile. “Enrile would join us [Tuason and Reyes], when we are almost done, for a cup of coffee..,” the news release quoted from Tuason’s affidavit. “He did not stay long. After coffee, he would leave and sometimes he would come to pick up Atty. Gigi Reyes,” the statement quoted the affidavit further. In the news release, Santiago also said Tuason’s statement was “sufficient to pin down Enrile, under the principle of conspiracy in criminal law.” “…his mere presence is sufficient to convince the court to a moral certainty that he was the mastermind pulling the strings of Reyes, so that they could profit from the illicit scam,” Santiago added. She also said Tuason’s statement proves Enrile’s guilt “to a moral certainty.” “Human experience teaches that there was no reason for Read More …

Palace: Latest PDAF scam witness to undergo usual state witness procedure

 Entertainment
Feb 122014
 
Palace: Latest PDAF scam witness to undergo usual state witness procedure

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)

Ruby Tuason: Jinggoy's 'pork cut' delivered to house of Loi Estrada's ex-aide

 News
Feb 112014
 
Ruby Tuason: Jinggoy's 'pork cut' delivered to house of Loi Estrada's ex-aide

The house of former First Lady Loi Estrada’s former aide in Makati was once used as a drop-off point for Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s kickbacks in the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam, potential state witness Ruby Tuason said in her affidavit. In her sworn statement submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Tuason identified a certain Justa Tantoco as the owner of the house in Dasmariñas Village where a total of P11.97 million for Senator Estrada, son of the former First Lady, was supposedly brought. Tuason, a resident of Dasmariñas Village, added that based on the accounting record of Benhur Luy, principal whistleblower of pork barrel scam, the transaction in Tantoco’s house was “consummated through a certain Matt Ranillo.” A report on news magazine Asiaweek published in 2000 identified Tantoco as the former First Lady’s chief aide. The magazine report even portrayed Tuason as someone familiar with the former First Lady’s relationship with her husband, former President Joseph Estrada. Previous reports published on lifestyle pages of local broadsheets meanwhile portrayed Tantoco as a “civic-oriented” and “charity-oriented” socialite. A report on “News To Go” also identified Tantoco as a friend and former aide of the former First Lady. Last December, GMA News Online published a report on how the former First Lady, who also served as senator from 2001 to 2007, also supposedly benefited from transactions with JLN Corporation, Janet Lim-Napoles’s company. The information was based on payment vouchers submitted during a 2005 legal dispute between actor Matt Ranillo III and Read More …

Enrile: Gigi Reyes not authorized to discuss ‘pork’ with Ruby Tuason

 News
Feb 102014
 
Enrile: Gigi Reyes not authorized to discuss ‘pork’ with Ruby Tuason

Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile on Monday denied authorizing his former chief-of-staff, Jessica “Gigi” Gonzales Reyes, to discuss pork barrel transactions with potential state witness Ruby Tuason on his behalf. In an interview, Enrile maintained that he never received government funds from Tuason through Reyes. “Pork barrel funds? Walang ibinibigay sa akin na pork barrel funds. Kickback? I don’t know. I do not live with Mrs Reyes. I do not live in her house,” the senator told reporters. He added that he is confident Reyes will not further implicate him in the alleged anomaly. He said as far as he knows, his former chief-of-staff never received kickbacks from pork barrel transactions. “What will she [Reyes] say? I have faith in her honesty and integrity… There has never been any occasion when she violated that degree of rectitude expected of a public servant,” Enrile said. Ruby Tuason Last Friday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said that Tuason, through an affidavit, admitted to personally delivering pork barrel kickbacks to Enrile, through Reyes, and to Senator Jinggoy Estrada. De Lima also said that Tuason even recalled an incident when Enrile dropped by at a coffee meeting between her and Reyes. Reyes resigned last January as Enrile’s chief-of-staff at the height of accusations that she had power over Senate matters and authority to sign on behalf of her boss. She left the country last August at the height of the pork barrel scandal. Last September, Reyes posted a statement on her Facebook page Read More …