Guess who came to dinner at Ruby Tuason’s ‘Malampaya Mansion’?
MANILA, Philippines – A neophyte senator, who belongs to the majority bloc in the Senate, had been to Ruby Tuason’s “Malampaya Mansion” in Makati City and even dined with her and Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada during the 2013 campaign, Estrada himself said on Thursday.
Estrada, in a privilege speech last week, disclosed that Tuason bought the P45 million “Malampaya Mansion” in Dasmarinas Village in Makati City in 2009. The money used to buy the house allegedly came from the commissions she got from her dealings in connection with the Malapampaya gas funds.
“First class, may swimming pool. I’ve been there. Nakita ko kung gaano kalaki ang bahay ni Mrs. Tuason sa Dasmariñas (It’s first may, there’s a swimming pool. I’ve been there. I saw how big the mansion was of Mrs. Tuason in Dasmariñas,” the senator said at a Senate forum.
Asked who he was with when he went to Tuason’s house, Estrada said: “An incumbent senator. Hindi senador dati, ngayon senador na.”
Estrada refused to name his companion, saying it was just a dinner and there was nothing wrong about it.
“Wala lang dinner lang, papakita yung bahay nya (Nothing, it was just a dinner. She just wanted to show her house.) I wasn’t able to attend the blessing of the house so she invited us for dinner,” said the senator.
“Wala namang masama dun e. Hindi naman porke nakipag-dinner may dealings na…” he added.
Both Estrada and Tuason have been charged with plunder in connection with the P10 billion “pork barrel” fund scam. But Tuason later turned against the senator.
Estrada said he and the unnamed senator were the only guests at Tuason’s house during that time.
“Dalawa lang kaming nag-dinner kuntodo waiter pa (We two were the only guests in the dinner with waiter to boot),” he said.
With the prodding of the reporters, Estrada later identified his colleague as a neophyte and a member of the majority bloc in the Senate.
There are only four neophyte senators in the majority bloc and they are Grace Poe, Bam Aquino , Juan Edgardo Angara, and Cynthia Villar.
Poe and Aquino quickly denied in separate text messages that they were the ones being referred to by Estrada.
“I’ve never been to her house. (I) don’t even recall having had a conversation ever with her,” Poe said when sought for reaction.
“Nope, that’s not me,” Aquino said.
Angara admitted that he and his wife had been to Tuason’s house when the latter invited them to attend her birthday party. He noted though that it was a big party and could not recall if Estrada was also in the same occasion.
“I’ve known Ruby Tuason even in the 90s when my Dad ran as Erap’s vice president and she later became the social secretary, “ he said in a separate text message.
He was referring to his father, former Senator Edgardo Angara, who ran with former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada.
“So I’ve been to her (Tuason) house before together with my wife noong nagbirthday sya. I don’t recall Senator Jinggoy being there when we went,” the younger Angara added.
He noted that it was a big party and that he and his wife even came late.
Inquirer.net tried to get Villar’s reaction but her camp has yet to respond as of posting.
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