Tuason: I never got to talk to Enrile

By: Maila Ager - 11 years ago

Ruby Tuason. PHOTO by Kristine Sabillo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – Ruby Tuason, the latest witness to blow the whistle on the pork barrel scammers, said she never met Senator Juan Ponce Enrile although he may have an “inkling” about her transactions with his former chief of staff.

During the Senate investigation into the pork barrel scam or alleged misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of lawmakers, Tuason said she only met with Enrile’s aide and lawyer Gigi Reyes.

“I never get to talk to Senator Enrile. I only get to talk with Atty. Reyes,” Tuason told the Senate blue ribbon committee Thursday.

“Sa dami ho nito siguro naman meron syang inkling,” Tuason said.

Tuason said Reyes would pick the senator’s shares for funnelling his “pork barrel” funds to fake organizations of alleged scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

Tuason repeatedly said during the hearing that she had never discussed “pork’ with Enrile in at least two occasions that she met the senator.

When Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes III pressed for a definite answer, Tuason said, ‘I can only presume…yes.”

Tuason, the former social secretary of then president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, was said to be the conduit between Senators Enrile and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Napoles.

She said she had introduced Napoles to the lawmakers.

Tuason fled to the US after the scandal broke out before returning to become state witness. She said she was bothered by her conscience.

Tuason is facing a plunder charge, along with Estrada, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Enrile.