Senate probe panel summons Dennis Cunanan

By: Maila Ager - 11 years ago

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.