COMING HOME AND COMING CLEAN Ruby Tuason swears to the veracity of her affidavit on what she knows about the Priority Development Assistance Fund and Malampaya Fund scams before an administering officer somewhere in California. Beside her is lawyer Dennis Manalo. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The lawyer of Ruby Tuason, one of those charged with plunder over the pork barrel scam, confirmed to the Inquirer that she would return to the Philippines Friday to testify against the perpetrators of the scam.
Lawyer Dennis Manalo told the Inquirer on Thursday that his client would turn state witness and that she had executed her sworn affidavit.
Tuason has been admitted to the Witness Protection Program of the Department of Justice (DOJ), Manalo added.
The following is Manalo’s statement in full (audio):
“I am Atty. Dennis Manalo, and I am the legal counsel of Ruby Tuason. Upon instructions of my client, I confirm that she executed the sworn statement containing her answers to questions propounded to her by the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) regarding the DOJ’s cases against those involved in the so-called PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) and Malampaya scams.
“On the basis of this, my client applied for and was admitted to the Witness Protection Program of the DOJ.
“She is committed to testify before the appropriate agencies or courts that will investigate or hear these cases.
“My client came forward to clear her conscience despite knowing full well the dangers to her life and reputation. She did not receive and was not promised any financial consideration or payment in exchange for her testimony apart from what the law provides under the program. In fact, she will return to the government whatever monetary gains she may have derived from the transactions that are the subject of these cases. Neither is it my client’s purpose or intention to create or perpetuate the scandal against anyone. It is not her goal to assist any political agenda or objective. It is the truth and nothing else that is primordial in my client’s heart and mind.”
Originally posted at 1:59 am | Friday, February 7, 2014
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