Jinggoy blasts Guingona on Senate floor for ‘prejudging’ pork probe

Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Monday used the Senate floor to openly criticize Senator Teofisto Guingona III for supposedly "prejudging" the results of the inquiry on the alleged pork barrel scam.

 

During the day's session, Estrada questioned the propriety of Guingona's statement that witness Ruby Tuason's testimony during the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing last Thursday was a "three-point shot." 

Estrada had previously countered that it was actually "an offensive foul."

 

Guingona chairs the Senate blue ribbon committee, which handles the pork barrel scam probe. 

 

"Is it right for the committee chairman to prejudge the results of a hearing? If he has already judged me as guilty, what is the reason for calling another hearing?" Estrada said on the Senate floor.

 

Guingona was not present during the Senate session.

 

Estrada also threatened to fight Guingona, if the Senate blue ribbon committee chairman continues to try him "by publicity." 

 

"If that's the case, if he chooses that battle, I will give him that battle. No problem with me.

Magkakasama tayo. Para husgahan ako na ako'y guilty—lalabanan ko po iyan dahil wala akong kasalanan sa taong bayan," Estrada said.

 

At the end of Tuason's appearance before the Senate blue ribbon committee last Thursday, Guingona described her testimony as a "three-point shot" that directly links a senator to the supposed pork barrel anomaly.

 

Tuason detailed during the Senate inquiry how she supposedly delivered pork barrel kickbacks to Estrada and to Gigi Reyes, former chief-of-staff of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile. —KG, GMA News