Guingona: 3-point-shot remark not meant to impute guilt

Senator Teofisto Guingona III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines  — “Trabaho lang po … at walang personalan.” (It’s just work, nothing  personal),”  was  how Senator Teofisto  Guingona  III answered  Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada’s claim that he has  prejudged  the case against him over the  P10-billion pork barrel” funds scam.

“For the record, I have no intention of prejudging the guilt or innocence of any of our peers allegedly involved in the issue now under probe by the Senate blue ribbon committee,”  Guingona said when he took the floor on n Tuesday.

“The transcripts of the hearings should prove this fact. And, I believe I speak for myself as well as for our peers who have attended the hearings when I say that we have done our utmost best to ensure that the dignity and honor of our colleagues involved in this issue are preserved and protected,” he said.

Guingona though acknowledged that  his statements during the last hearing  of the committee, which he chairs, and  a press conference, have caused “offense and the perception that I may have, quote-unquote, “prejudged” the guilt of one of our peers.”

He was referring to his “three-point shot”  remark on the testimony of pork barrel scam witness Ruby Tuason against Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Jinggoy Estrada.

“Mr. President, let me assure you as well as our colleagues that to, quote-unquote, “prejudge” has never been my intention,” said Guingona.

“I understand that the offense and the perception were apparently the result of the use of an analogy from the favorite national pastime – basketball. True, I have made such reference.”

But Guingona assured that that the phrase he used “did not refer to a state of guilt on the part of any person.”

“There are questions the Committee is attempting to answer. The witness had surely helped in the search for the answers. I repeat – in the search for answers. Not in the determination of guilt or innocence,” he said.

“The phrase was used by me to describe and underscore the possible impact and value of the testimony of a witness,” he further said.

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