‘Slam dunk’ a dud–Binay

By: Delfin T. Mallari Jr. - 10 years ago

Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Vice President Jejomar Binay in Lucena City, Quezon province on Saturday said the reported “slam dunk evidence” provided by state witness Ruby Tuason against his allies Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile in the P10-billion pork barrel scam case was a “dud.”

“Can it demolish anything? Can it?” Binay said, laughing, when asked here for comment on the damning testimony of Tuason, who admitted to delivering millions of pesos in kickbacks to Estrada and Enrile from businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind behind the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

Binay also questioned the plan of the Department of Justice to make Tuason a state witness.

Tuason is facing plunder charges along with Estrada, Enrile, Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. and several others for the alleged misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

Tuason, who returned to the Philippines on Friday to testify for the prosecution in exchange for immunity and protection, has to show that she is the least guilty to be taken in as state witness.

Binay, Enrile and former President Joseph Estrada, now mayor of Manila, are the three leaders of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance.

The Vice President arrived in Lucena City at noon with Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian to speak at Freemasons installation rites and meet with his local allies, former Lucena Mayor Ramon Talaga Jr. and his sons, former Quezon Board Member Romano Talaga and former City Councilor Ramil Talaga.