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Ruby Tuason: I delivered ‘heavy’ bagfuls of money to Jinggoy
By ANDREO CALONZO, GMA News
(Updated 1:53 p.m.) Potential state witness Ruby Tuason on Thursday detailed before the Senate blue ribbon committee her alleged transactions with Senator Jinggoy Estrada, involving millions in pork barrel funds.
In delivering Estrada's share, she said she would pass through the Senate basement to avoid inspection, and would usually be met by a member of Estrada's staff before proceeding to his office.
In her testimony, Tuason said her dealings with Estrada began in 2004 when she personally delivered P5.7 million to his residence in Greenhills in San Juan City.
However, she added that this transaction was canceled, with Senator Estrada saying, "Huwag na lang."
Also, Tuason said she delivered bagfuls of money to Estrada's Senate office, but could not recall the exact amounts.
"Mabigat 'yung pera. I used a hand carry bag, 'yung may gulong. If the amount is small, like P1 million or P2 million, kasya in my bag. That will fit in my bag. If it's bigger than that, we need a big bag," Tuason said.
She added that there was also a time when she delivered Estrada's commission in front of a comedy bar in Greenhills.
"One time he called me up, he needed some cash at night. I was at that time with Mrs. Napoles and her husband and we dropped it off, only P1 million, in front of a comedy bar along Wilson Street. I just handed it to him in a bag," she said.
She said Estrada initially refused to meet with Napoles.
"I told Jinggoy, 'this woman wants to meet you.' Jinggoy refused saying he didn't want to meet her personally. So, sinabi ko kay Napoles 'ayaw ka niyang makilala,' sabi niya 'sabihin mo nagbibigay ako ng commission na 40 percent.' I relayed that same message to Jinggoy."
Tuason affidavit
In her affidavit submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Tuason admitted to personally delivering kickbacks to Estrada and Gigi Reyes, former chief-of-staff of Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile.
Tuason, Enrile, Estrada and Reyes are all facing plunder raps before the Office of the Ombudsman for their alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam, supposedly engineered by detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles. — with Amita Legaspi/LBG/RSJ, GMA News
In delivering Estrada's share, she said she would pass through the Senate basement to avoid inspection, and would usually be met by a member of Estrada's staff before proceeding to his office.
In her testimony, Tuason said her dealings with Estrada began in 2004 when she personally delivered P5.7 million to his residence in Greenhills in San Juan City.
However, she added that this transaction was canceled, with Senator Estrada saying, "Huwag na lang."
"For reasons only known to him, kinansel niya. P37.5 million ang project and P5.7 million ang commission, he returned the commission after a week or two. I asked him why, he did not give a real reason, sabi niya huwag na lang. I just took it at that," said Tuason.
Tuason then said the first full transaction with Estrada happened on Dec. 3, 2007, when the senator allocated P25 million of his pork barrel fund to the Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC).
She claimed Estrada received P9 million in commission for that project. Principal pork scam whistleblower Benhur Luy confirmed that Tuason and another Estrada staff, Pauline Labayen, received the money on behalf the senator.
'Deliveries'
'Deliveries'
Also, Tuason said she delivered bagfuls of money to Estrada's Senate office, but could not recall the exact amounts.
"Mabigat 'yung pera. I used a hand carry bag, 'yung may gulong. If the amount is small, like P1 million or P2 million, kasya in my bag. That will fit in my bag. If it's bigger than that, we need a big bag," Tuason said.
Tuason said she sometimes uses a small duffel bag if she will be delivering a big amount of money.
She added that there was also a time when she delivered Estrada's commission in front of a comedy bar in Greenhills.
"One time he called me up, he needed some cash at night. I was at that time with Mrs. Napoles and her husband and we dropped it off, only P1 million, in front of a comedy bar along Wilson Street. I just handed it to him in a bag," she said.
She reiterated that she introduced Napoles to Estrada during the the wake of Rudy Fernandez in 2008.
"During the wake of Rudy Fernandez, Jinggoy was there and I introduced them. I was not given the impression that they were introduced before. Days after, Jinggoy asked for the number of Mrs. Napoles. Before I knew it she was no longer doing any business with me," she said.
Tuason said she first met Napoles in 2004 when the latter was introduced to her by her now deceased husband. Napoles then badgered her to introduce the former to Tuason's politician friends, specially Estrada and Enrile.
She said Estrada initially refused to meet with Napoles.
"I told Jinggoy, 'this woman wants to meet you.' Jinggoy refused saying he didn't want to meet her personally. So, sinabi ko kay Napoles 'ayaw ka niyang makilala,' sabi niya 'sabihin mo nagbibigay ako ng commission na 40 percent.' I relayed that same message to Jinggoy."
Tuason affidavit
In her affidavit submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Tuason admitted to personally delivering kickbacks to Estrada and Gigi Reyes, former chief-of-staff of Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile.
Estrada had earlier denied receiving money from Tuason, even saying that the latter's affidavit was fabricated to pin him down on the plunder charges.
"Walang specifics. There were no dates... Sabi niya binigyan niya ako ng P35 million. Ilang kilos iyon? Madadala niya ba iyon?" Estrada said on Tuesday.
"Walang specifics. There were no dates... Sabi niya binigyan niya ako ng P35 million. Ilang kilos iyon? Madadala niya ba iyon?" Estrada said on Tuesday.
He further said that the figures of the alleged kickbacks given to him were “jacked up.”
"The reason why Mrs. Tuason and Benhur Luy met [on Monday] was to, of course, tally the figures. Dahil hindi alam kung magkano raw ang binigay sa akin. So ijajack up na nila iyon to reach the threshold for plunder," Estrada said.
Tuason, Enrile, Estrada and Reyes are all facing plunder raps before the Office of the Ombudsman for their alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam, supposedly engineered by detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles. — with Amita Legaspi/LBG/RSJ, GMA News
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