Anti-graft group tells Jinggoy Estrada: Sir, game’s over

Senator Estrada. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—An anti-corruption group called on Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada on Saturday to resign following disclosures by witness Ruby Tuason that he allegedly received from her millions of pesos in kickbacks from the anomalous use of his Priority Development Assistance Fund allotments.

The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption said Estrada’s resignation could “hopefully” restore the legislature’s tarnished image.

“He has no alibi left. Sir, the game’s over. We have had enough of plundering public officials. No use  denying. Resign!” VACC founding chair and president Dante Jimenez said in a statement.

The group also expressed disgust at the revelations of Tuason and other whistleblowers before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee regarding the siphoning of PDAF allotments into ghost projects through fake non-governmental organizations set up by alleged racketeer Janet Lim Napoles.

“It clearly showed just how prevalent corruption in high places has become and how our public officials, top to bottom, commit them (sic) with impunity. The sworn testimony of Mrs. Tuason is shocking. The allegations are a disgrace to public service,” Jimenez said.

Tuason said at Thursday’s committee that she personally delivered kickbacks to Estrada at his office in the Senate  and at his residence in San Juan City.

Tuason also implicated Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile in the scam, saying she acted as Napoles’ middleman with Enrile’s chief-of-staff, lawyer Jessica “Gigi” Reyes.

Jimenez said Tuason was a “credible” witness who could pin Estrada and Enrile in the P10-bilion PDAF scam.

“They way they do it—like it were just a simple transaction to siphon off billions of PDAF allocations intended for public use. And the looting, it’s incredible! How can our citizens ever trust their public officials again? We call on Senator Estrada to resign now. Hopefully, that would help restore confidence in our Senate and House of Representatives which are besieged by corruption cases,” Jimenez said.