THE woman who claimed to be in possession of a notebook containing the names of officials of the Department of Justice (DOJ) who allegedly received money from the Ampatuans has backtracked and admitted the notebook was fabricated.
In her-five page affidavit, Jerramy T. Joson said that she was merely used by Atty. Nena Santos, Maguindanao Gov. Ismael “Toto” Mangudadatu and Atty. Gemma Oquendo to destroy the person of and file graft charges against Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon and other DOJ officials who handled the 2009 Maguindanao massacre case.
Joson claimed that she was ordered by the three to make it appear that she obtained a “notebook” from Jennylyn Manaloto, wife Atty. Arnel Manaloto, one of the counsels of the Ampatuans. The notebook purportedly contains the names of those who received money from the Ampatuans.
But Joson said the “notebook” was merely “concocted” by the camp of Santos and Mangudadatu.
She said she was only forced to make the accusations because the three had helped her in her case against Manaloto.
“Nalaman ko din na matindi ang galit nila Atty. Nena Santos, Atty. Gemma Oquendo at Gov. Toto Mangudadatu kay Usec. Baraan at gusto nilang matanggal ito sa paghawak ng kaso at para daw mawalan ng tiwala si [Justice] Secretary [Leila] de Lima kaya’t sinabi nila sa akin na gagamitin nila ako para sirain at kasuhan si Usec. Baraan,” Joson said.
She said in one of their meetings, the three explained to her that she would mention a notebook she got from Jenny Manaloto, which contains the names of Baraan and other alleged recipients of Ampatuan money.
“Noong una ay tumanggi ako subalit matindi ang pagkumbinsi at pakiusap nina Atty. Nena Santos sa akin at sinabi pa nila sa akin na sila naman daw ang nangangailangan ng tulong at nang ako daw ang nangangailangan ay tinulungan nila ako kahit hindi nila ako kakilala kaya’t wala na akong nagawa kundi sumunod,” she said in her affidavit.
Likewise, Joson confirmed that she had already withdrawn the graft and corruption cases she filed against Baraan and his staff Paula Garcia before the Office of the Ombudsman (Ombudsman).
Meanwhile, Santos denied fabricating the notebook to get back at Baraan, Fadullon and other DOJ officials.
“I have nothing to do with the alleged notebook which copy I only got from NBI (National Bureau of Investigation),” Santos said in a text message to reporters.
“Why will she go out on national TV and say so much and now turn around?” Santos asked adding that she was informed by one of the lawyers from the Ampatuan side “that she (Joson) has many utang (debt) from Manaloto and coming out on television was a way of getting more money from them,” Santos said. AC