Whistle-blower Marina Sula recants testimony vs. Bong Revilla

Pork barrel scam whistle-blower Marina Sula on Thursday backtracked on her earlier testimony against detained former senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., claiming she was coached by the prosecution to affirm the statements of fellow whistle-blower Benhur Luy.

During the hearing at the Sandiganbayan First Division, Sula was placed under the direct examination of lawyer Reody Anthony Balisi who asked her if she had any knowledge on whether Revilla was aware on the implementation of projects supposedly funded by his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel.

Sula denied meeting Revilla during her time as an employee of JLN Corporation, but said she handled various supporting documents concerning the bogus foundation Masaganang Ani Para sa Magsasaka Foundation, Inc.

She also pointed to Luy as the culprit behind the forged signatures of Revilla in the endorsement letters for PDAF-funded foundations linked to alleged scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles. She said she saw Luy forge at least three letters.

"Si Benhur, siya yung mahusay pumira ng lawmakers at siya yung nakikita kong pumipirma para sa lawmakers. Wala pong alam si Senator Revilla sa paggawa po ng endorsement letters," she said.

Why recant?

Division chairperson Associate Justice Efren dela Cruz told Sula to identify the dates when Luy supposedly signed the fake documents. Sula, however, failed to give a specific answer aside from the date indicated on the endorsement letters.

When asked by Balisi on why she recanted her testimony during the 2014 bail hearings, Sula replied that her statement then was based on her meeting with the Ombudsman prosecution panel handling the Revilla case.

"Sinabihan kasi ako ng panel na mag-corroborate sa sinabi ni Benhur kasi si Benhur ang nauna sa bail hearings. Mayroon po siyang mga sinasabi na para sa akin hindi totoo," she said.

Associate Justice Geraldine Faith Econg then inquired on who from the panel Sula was referring to, to which Sula identified then-Director and now Judge Joefferson Toribio.

Sula said Toribio directed her to corroborate the testimony of Luy to prevent conflicting statements in the plunder case.

"Ang sabi ni director magiging conflciting sa sinabi ni Benhur na ini-email muna [ang endorsement letters]. Pero hindi naman ini-email kasi ginagawa sa office ang document," she said.

Associate Justice Edgardo Caldona reminded Sula on the risk of losing her coverage under the Witness Protection Program due to her recantation, while Econg asked anew why she made the statement now when the case is wrapping up.

Sula told the magistrates she failed to control her emotions upon reading the testimony of Luy at the Sandiganbayan.

"Ngayon lang po lumuwag ang loob ko. Noon kasi pigil na pigil lahat. Pero nung nabasa ko yung [transcript of stenographic notes], mayroon po siyang mga maling sinabi," she said.

Fears of indictment

According to Deputy Special Prosecutor Manuel Soriano, the prosecution already had information on Sula's change in testimony but hoped that she would change her mind in the last minute.

Soriano, however, said her current statements will not affect their case against Revilla.

"May narinig na kami two days ago na she will recant her testimony pero we were hoping na magsasabi siya ng totoo," Soriano said.

"In so far as we are concerned, hindi pa naman kasi intact pa naman ang testimony ni Benhur, hindi naman niya sinabi na totally mali ang testimony ni Benhur,” he added.

Soriano said the testimony of Sula may be the result of her fears of indictment in other pending cases against her such as the complaint filed by the Anti-Money Laundering Council.

“Nagkaroon kasi ng mga cases na na-file sa kanya, kasi ang immunity nila per case lang, per legislator so siguro may mga nakalusot na hindi pa siya nakakuha ng immunity at na-charge siya,” he said.

Soriano said Sula still testified that Revilla's former aide, lawyer Richard Cambe, was the one who signed the memorandum of agreements in favor of the Napoles foundations on behalf of his former boss.

“Inamin naman niya na si Cambe ang pumipirma ng MOA, 'di ba? Eh si Cambe is a trusted staff ni Sen. Revilla. Bakit siya pipirma, may gagawin ba sa PDAF ang isang staff ng senator kung walang blessing ang senator?” he said.

Soriano also rebuked Sula on her claims against Toribio: “There may be some other reasons, pero we stand by the other evidence presented by the prosecution, naniniwala kami and with respect to the testimony given by him against Judge Toribion, hindi namin 'yun gagawin.”

On the other hand, lead defense counsel Estelito Mendoza called the testimony an "exclamation point" in favor of his client.

"The prosecution has not proven anything, that witness has just put an exclamation point to that matter, that the prosecution has not proven the charges or the allegations against Revilla,” he said. —KBK/RSJ, GMA News