Ruby Tuason. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Thursday said the Bureau of Immigration (BI) official who claimed that pork barrel scam witness Ruby Tuason left the country could face disciplinary action.
“Hindi sila authorized mag-share ng ganyang information without the clearance of the secretary of justice. Kaya pinapa-explain ko po formally as a prelude to possible disciplinary action,” she told the Senate blue ribbon committee.
(They are not authorized to share that kind of information without the clearance of the Secretary of Justice. That is why I am asking for a formal explanation as a prelude to possible disciplinary action.)
The Bureau of Immigration on Wednesday released to the media information on Tuason’s alleged flight back to the United States.
“We cannot confirm that. That’s why galit na galit po ako kahapon sa BI, lalo na dun sa spokesperson na iyon na naglabas ng ganyan na walang authority (That’s why I was so angry Wednesday, especially with the spokesperson who released the information without authority),” a visibly irked De Lima said.
The Secretary emphasized that Tuason, who claimed to have served as a middle-man for Senator Jinggoy Estrada and Janet Lim-Napoles, is a high-risk provisional state witness like Benhur Luy and Dennis Cunanan.
She said the BI may not release information about those under the Witness Protection Program without her clearance and that what the BI did was a violation. It may also put the witness’ life in danger.
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