Probers spoon-feeding figures to Ruby Tuason–Estrada

Ruby Tuason, as claimed by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada (inset) on Tuesday, is being fed by government agents with “fabricated” information to nail him down for plunder in connection with an alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam. FILE PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines—Sen. Jinggoy Estrada on Tuesday accused government agents of feeding Ruby Tuason “fabricated” information to nail him down for plunder in connection with an alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam.

Estrada said Tuason met with principal whistle-blower Benhur Luy on Monday precisely to reconcile their figures on how much money in kickbacks Janet Lim-Napoles allegedly gave him.

“It’s uncertain how much was allegedly given to me. So they will jack it up to reach the threshold of plunder,” Estrada told reporters.

“Benhur said, ‘I got P9 million.’ Now, Tita Ruby is allegedly saying that I received P35 million. They are really trying to reach P50 million, which is the threshold for plunder,” Estrada said.

Asked how he got the information, Estrada said, “It’s rather obvious.”

Estrada expressed doubt that the P40 million that Tuason reportedly intended to return would tally with the 1.5 percent she supposedly received as commission from the deals Napoles hammered out from the lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

“Now, it appears that Tita Ruby has a new ledger. She doesn’t have any ledger. Now, she came up with a ledger for the figures to tally. My goodness,” Estrada said.

He said that Tuason’s affidavit mentioned serial numbers of special allotment release orders (Saros).

“How can she remember the Saro number if she is in the US?  It was the undersecretary of the DOJ [Department of Justice] that went there and gave her the Saro numbers and asked her to sign,” Estrada said.

“They tallied hers with the Saro numbers of Benhur. Do you think Mrs. Tuason can remember the Saro numbers? I don’t think so.  She’s not concerned with the Saro number,” he added.

“The story was spoon-fed to her,” Estrada said.

“I think she will crumble on cross-examination,” he added.

Tuason has sought to implicate Estrada, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and his former chief of staff, Jessica Lucila Reyes, in the pork barrel scam. She is also a respondent in the case under investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Estrada, Enrile and Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., who is also implicated in the case, have all denied any wrongdoing.

Estrada said Tuason’s testimony would not be enough to merit the filing of a court case against him. He said Tuason’s affidavit, a copy of which had been given to him, contained “nothing.”

“That is not enough to pin me down. She just said she gave me money here [in the Senate] and [at my residence] in San Juan.  There’s no detail,” Estrada said.

“That’s why I expect them to file a supplemental affidavit to further pin me down. That supplemental would really just be a fabrication.”

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