Senator Cynthia Villar. Photo by RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines – Neophyte Senator Cynthia Villar admitted on Thursday that she had met and dined with Ruby Tuason, one of the personalities allegedly involved in the P10-billion “pork barrel” funds scam but said it was “purely social.”
“I have known Ms. Ruby Tuason since she was the social secretary of former President Joseph Estrada. My husband Manny Villar was then the Speaker of the House,” the senator said in a statement.
“I had dinner with Ms. Tuason and Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, but it was purely social. She was trying to bring me closer to Senator Jinggoy since he is planning to run for a higher position,” she added.
Senator Villar was reacting to Estrada’s statement that he and another incumbent senator had been to Tuason’s “Malampaya Mansion” in Dasmariñas Village in Makati City and dined with her during the 2013 campaign.
But Estrada refused to name his colleague he was with during that dinner except that that he or she belongs to the majority bloc in the Senate. He repeatedly said though there was nothing wrong with that meeting.
There are only four neophyte senators in the majority bloc and they are Grace Poe, Bam Aquino , Juan Edgardo Angara, and Cynthia Villar.
Poe and Aquino quickly denied in separate text messages that they were the ones being referred to by Estrada.
“I’ve never been to her house. (I) don’t even recall having had a conversation ever with her,” Poe said when sought for reaction.
“Nope, that’s not me,” Aquino said.
Angara admitted that he and his wife had been to Tuason’s house when the latter invited them to attend her birthday party. He noted though that it was a big party and could not recall if Estrada was also in the same occasion.
“I’ve known Ruby Tuason even in the 90s when my Dad ran as Erap’s vice president and she later became the social secretary, “ he said in a separate text message.
He was referring to his father, former Senator Edgardo Angara, who ran with former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada.
“So I’ve been to her (Tuason) house before together with my wife noong nagbirthday sya. I don’t recall Senator Jinggoy being there when we went,” the younger Angara added.
He noted that it was a big party and that he and his wife even came late.
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