Sen. Estrada: Tuason also visited other senators to ask for projects

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines— Senator  Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada  disclosed on  Tuesday that  Ruby Tuason had been visiting at the Senate other  incumbent and former senators, aside from him and  Senator Juan Ponce-Enrile, asking for projects.

Estrada made this  disclosure when he  came  face to face with Senator  Teofisto  Guingona  III  on  the floor over the latter’s  “three point shot” remark  on Tuason’s  testimony .

Estrada, Enrile, and Tuason are all facing plunder charges  at the Office of the Ombudsman   in connection with the P10 billion pork barrel scam. But Tuason turned against her co-accused and  agreed to  testify against them.

In her testimony before the Senate blue ribbon committee last week,  Tuason detailed how she had allegedly personally handed “commissions”  to Estrada in his office in the Senate and residence in San Juan  as well Enrile’s  shares  through his former chief of staff,  Jessica “Gigi” Reyes.

But Estrada wondered why he and Enrile were  the only senators mentioned by  Tuason.

“In fact, Mr. President , I’m really surprised why she only mentioned me  and Atty Gigi Reyes in her affidavit. She has a lot of senator-friends na pinupuntahan din nyan, may hinihingian din nya ng mga proyekto…,”  Estrada said when he interpellated   Guingona.

“Why didn’t you even bother to ask her sino ang mga pinupuntahan nya aside from the  office of Enrile and my office? Sino pa ang mga ibang senador na pinupuntahan nya dito sa Senado? Why didn’t you bother to ask her?” he further asked.

But Guingona, chairman of the committee, said  they asked Tuason  the question but the latter just issued a denial.

“The issue here is she lying or not?  Because I have received information  and I can support that she had been asking our colleagues here , former colleagues… for projects at inilalako din nya yan. O bakit hindi nyo tinanong yan?  Bakit kaming dalawa lang ni Enrile ang napapahamak dito sa kanyang testimonya?” Estrada asked.

Guingona said Estrada’s questions should be answered by  Tuason herself.

“The issue here is she lying or not…? What’s happening here is that you already prejudged us, especially me…” Estrada said.

At that point, Senate President Franklin Drilon   moved to suspend the session. Guingona had earlier denied prejudging Estrada.

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