Jinggoy told to stop ‘blind item’ on senators approached by Tuason

Senator Jinggoy Estrada should stop giving a "blind item" and name once and for all senators whom he claimed were approached by witness Ruby Tuason to peddle pork barrel projects, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said Wednesday.

 

In an interview, Trillanes dared Estrada to call for a probe on these senators supposedly approached by Tuason, and to volunteer himself as the main resource person for this inquiry.

 

"Sana po sinabi nya kung sinu-sino 'yun. Para tayo kasing nagba-blind item dito. Alam nyo, hindi naman sa pinipigilan umattend doon sa mga hearing ... Pwede rin nyang sabihin doon kung ano pang nalalaman nya," Trillanes told reporters.

 

He added that Estrada seems to be withholding the names of these senators to have "leverage" over his colleagues.

 

"Parang nag-threaten ka, parang nili-leverage mo against somebody, might as well come out in the open if you have something to say," Trillanes said.

 

On Tuesday, Estrada claimed that Tuason approached other former and incumbent senators to peddle projects involving pork barrel funds. Estrada, however, did not identify who these senators were.

Last week, Tuason testified before the Senate blue ribbon committee on how she supposedly delivered bagfuls of kickback from the pork barrel scam to Estrada and Gigi Reyes, former chief-of-staff of Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile.
 

Drilon: Not me

 

Meanwhile, Senate President Franklin Drilon categorically denied being approached by Tuason on pork barrel projects. 

 

"She [Tuason] did not approach my office. That one, I can respond to. Hindi po lumapit iyan sa opisina," Drilon told reporters in a separate interview.

 

He added that he only knew Tuason as the social secretary of former President Joseph Estrada. He also denied approaching Tuason to plan parties for him.

 

The Senate leader also assured that he will release all closed circuit television (CCTV) footage of Tuason inside the Senate building, regardless of whoever senator may be implicated.

 

"We have directed the sergeant-at-arms to make available all CCTV footage there is. Wala kaming tinatago diyan... Ang pagbisita ni Ruby Tuason, ang pagbisita ng media sa Senado, kung sino man ang bumisita. Wala kaming itatago, lahat ilalabas," Drilon said.

 

Last week, Jinggoy asked the Senate to release CCTV footage of Tuason's visits to the Senate.

Senate sergeant-at-arms Jose Balajadia Jr. said CCTV footage from the Senate basement have long been deleted, but those showing the Senate's lobby and upper floors are currently being examined by security officials. — RSJ,GMA News