Senate probe panel summons Dennis Cunanan

Former head of the Technology Resource Center Dennis Cunanan. PHOTO FROM www.dost.gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines — Dennis Cunanan, the  new whisteblower  in  P10 billion “pork barrel” scam, has been summoned  by the  Senate blue ribbon  committee to attend its next hearing  next week.

“I want to announce that we will call  Mr. Cunanan on March 6,   Thursday  next week, in connection with the  so-called  PDAF scam,”  committee chairman, Senator  Teofisto Guingona III, said on Tuesday. PDAF is Priority Development Assistance Fund known as “pork barrel” funds.

Cunanan is the  former head of the Technology  Resource Center and also a respondent in the cases filed at the Office of  the Ombudsman in connection with the pork scam. He was the second  accused, who applied  to become a state witness after  Ruby Tuason.

Guingona  could not  say for certain if Cunanan would be the  lone  resource  person  invited to  attend  next week’s hearing.

“Right now, it’s just Cunanan but I don’t want to say that it will just be him…” he  said.

Guingona said it was not the first time that Cunanan was summoned by the committee to shed light  on the scam  but  he was not questioned  for lack of time.

Before this, Guingona met with Justice  Secretary  Leila de Lima to clarify  if  Cunanan was indeed under the  government’s witness protection program.

And during their meeting, Guingona said de Lima expressed willingness to produce Cunanan for a no holds barred hearing next week.

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