Witness backs charge Bong Revilla used pork for scam

Whistleblower Marina Sula during a Senate Blue Ribbon commitee hearing.
INQUIRER File Photo/RAFFY LERMA

Marina Sula, a key witness in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam, had confirmed that Jane Lim Napolos “utilized” Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.’s Prioty Development Assistance Fund.

However, she clarified, that she had no personal knowledge on whether Revilla recevied kickbacks from Napoles, the alleged scam mastermind.

Sula, according to her lawyer Stephen Cascolan, told the antigraft court Sandiganbayan how Napoles used Revilla’s pork barrel.

Sula also testified that Benhur Luy, primary witness in the scam, had recorded all the kickbacks that Revilla received.

“She confirmed that Revilla’s PDAF was utilized by their NGOs [nongovernment organizations], that Luy had a record of kickbacks,” Cascolan said, referring to Priority Development Assistance Fund, the official name of pork barrel.

Cascolan made the clarification after news reports stated that Sula “recanted” her statement on Revilla’s involvement in the scam.

Wrong reports

“The report is not accurate. When we speak of recantation, we need to look at the actual testimony, not the news reports,” he said.

“Had there been recantation, why was this not asked when she was on the witness stand?” Cascolan added.

“If there is a recantation of a previous testimony, the Ombudsman would be the right office which should clarify this matter,” he added.

Cascolan explained that based on Sula’s narrative in the Sandiganbayan, only Luy had personal knowledge regarding the actual delivery of kickbacks to Revilla.

Sula added that it was Luy—not Revilla—who signed the endorsement and memorandum of agreement on the senator’s behalf.