Tuason asks for immunity from pork barrel scam charges

Tuason returned to the Philippines early Friday morning and expressed willingness to turn state witness but the Ombudsman has yet to decide on it.

For providing “very vital information,” Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Tuason had been placed under provisional coverage of the Witness Protection Program, pending "verification and authentication" of the Ombudsman if she really qualifies to become a state witness.
 

Tuason has admitted being the link between alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles and Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada. Tuason also said she personally delivered to Estrada and Enrile's chief of staff Gigi Reyes their supposed commissions from 2004 to 2008.

 

She also named other personalities who were allegedly involved in the scam.

 

Tuason was among 38 individuals who were slapped with PDAF-related criminal complaints at the Office of the Ombudsman in September last year.
 

In October that same year, a second string of charges was filed against Tuason, Napoles, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and 19 others in connection with the alleged misuse of P900 million in royalties from the Malampaya gas fund.
 

Tuason was included in the complaint for having received P242.775 million for a "still unknown principal," De Lima said at the time.
 

The gas fund was originally intended to fund projects that would aid those affected by Typhoon Pepeng and Tropical Storm Ondoy in 2009.

Tuason to tell all
 

Tuason's camp earlier assured that she is ready to tell all what she knows about the pork barrel scam in the Senate hearing to be held Thursday. Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, blue ribbon committee chairman, said Tuason will not be barred from naming names.

 

“She can narrate how it was done and under what circumstances it was done. Sabi niya meron siyang direct contact eh. This will be no holds barred, in the spirit of transparency and openness,” said Guingona.

 

Estrada said he is not bothered by Tuason's testimony, even dismissing it as fabricated. 
 

“Go ahead, I'm unfazed. Of course she's going to fabricate stories already for the public to believe. This is all trial by publicity,” he said.

 

He said Tuason may have already been "fed" with versions of testimonies that will support plunder charges filed before the Office of the Ombudsman.

 

“Ngayon may lumabas nang bagong ledger si Tita Ruby. Wala namang ledger 'yun. Ngayon gumawa siya ng ledger para lang ma-tally 'yung figures. My goodness naman. Of course niluluto. This was well-orchestrated simula nung pumunta 'yung NBI sa ano, I presume they fed the stories to Mrs. Tuason," Estrada said.

 

Enrile, on the other hand, did not grant an interview on the matter. He earlier denied receiving money from Napoles.

 

The two senators will not attend the hearing just like in the past Senate inquiries on the matter.

 

Aside from Tuason, expected to attend the hearing are whistleblowers Benhur Luy, Merlina Suñas and Marina Sula who earlier testified before the Senate.

 

“Para ma-compare natin 'yung sinabi ng isa at sinabi ng isa, at para at least magkaroon ng malinaw na corroboration o pagkakatugma sa testimonies nila,” said Guingona. —Amita O. Legaspi/KG/RSJ, GMA News