Luy: Actor Mat Ranillo signed vouchers on Jinggoy, Loi ‘pork’ transactions

Principal pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy on Thursday said actor Mat Ranillo III signed vouchers to show that pork barrel kickbacks have already been received by Senator Jinggoy Estrada and his mother, former First Lady Loi Estrada.

 

"Si Mat Ranillo ang pumipirma [ng] voucher ng transactions namin kung bayad na o hindi pa bayad. Doon na rin po nilalagay ang particulars," Luy said during the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing.

 

Luy added that Ranillo had a "close" relationship with Senator Estrada and his secretary, Pauline Labayen.

 

Last December, GMA News Online published a report on how the former First Lady, who also served as senator from 2001 to 2007, also supposedly benefited from transactions with JLN Corporation, alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles's company.
 

The information was based on payment vouchers submitted during a 2005 legal dispute between Ranillo and JLN Corporation.

 

Luy said Ranillo and Napoles reached a settlement on this legal dispute, because the controversial businesswoman was worried about possible media attention on the case, which might expose their pork barrel dealings.

 

Earlier during the hearing, Luy also said that Ranillo's wife was present when he delivered Estrada's P11.97-million pork barrel kickback to a house in Dasmariñas Village, which was owned by Justa Tantoco.

 

Potential state witness Ruby Tuason identified Tantoco as a friend and former chief-of-staff of former First Lady Loi Estrada. — Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMA News