Ruby Tuason with Janet Lim Napoles 2009. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—After hearing recommendations from government functionaries on how to avoid another multibillion-peso scam, the Senate blue ribbon committee is returning next Thursday to hear testimony from Ruby Tuason, who is accused in the P10-billion pork barrel scam but has offered to tell all she knows about the racket in exchange for freedom from prosecution.
Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, chair of the blue ribbon committee, announced on Friday that his committee will invite Tuason to the inquiry “to shed more light on the matter.”
Just hours after Guingona’s announcement, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago indicated her intention to break her sick leave to personally question Tuason, who is facing plunder charges along with Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, Ramon Revilla Jr. and several others.
“As member of the blue ribbon committee, I respectfully recommend a public hearing to receive the testimony of Ms Ruby Tuason, who is reported today to have been admitted to the witness protection program,” Santiago said in her letter to Guingona.
“She should testify on charges of alleged plunder now pending with the Ombudsman, against herself, as well as certain senators,” Santiago added.
Reservation
Santiago asked Guingona to reserve 11 a.m. onward for her questioning of Tuason. Senators usually get their turn to ask questions according to the order of their arrival at the hearing.
“I continue to suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, and I have to limit my excursions outside of my home. Any such event has to be limited to two hours at most, because thereafter I will suffer certain manifestations of the illness, such as shortness of breath, dizziness, and hypertension,” Santiago told Guingona.
Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano called on Tuason to disclose everything she knows at the Senate inquiry.
“I urge Ruby Tuason to tread on the side of truth and bare all that she knows at the blue ribbon hearing. Now is her opportunity to face her accusers—the people—and she should speak the truth,” Cayetano said in a statement.
“Regardless of who will be affected, regardless of how high their positions are, our countrymen need to know the truth,” Cayetano said.
Cayetano lauded the national government on securing Tuason’s testimony against those charged in the pork barrel scam allegedly masterminded by detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.
“I also encourage the national government to continue using this formula in going after corruption masterminds—criminally charging all of those involved to push some of them into turning state witness and testifying against the masterminds of the plunder of the people’s money,” Cayetano said.
“This should not be limited to the pork barrel scam, but to other scandals as well like the Hello Garci, NBN-ZTE deal and the multimillion-peso fertilizer controversies,” he said.
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