Jinggoy asks SC to review decision denying him access to ‘pork’ affidavits

Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court (SC) to review the Office of the Ombudsman's decision denying him access to affidavits of government witnesses in the alleged pork barrel scam.

 

In his petition for certiorari submitted to the high court, Estrada said the Ombudsman "grievously ignored" his right to due process when it decided to recommended charges against him based on evidence "not disclosed to him.”

 

“By intentionally withholding filings in its possession, including pieces of evidence it eventually used in precipitately deciding on the existence of probable cause, Ombudsman violated the right of Senator Estrada to be apprised of the records of the case pertinent to the charges against him,” Estrada's petition read.

 

The senator also claimed that the Ombudsman "effectively prevented" him from exercising "his right to answer and to rebut" allegations by not furnishing him copies of his accusers' sworn statements.

 

Last month, the Ombudsman junked Estrada's request to be furnished copies of sworn affidavits of government witnesses Ruby Tuason and Dennis Cunanan. 

 

In her testimony before the Senate blue ribbon committee last February, Tuason said she personally delivered pork barrel kickbacks to Estrada. The senator denied Tuason's claim. 

 

Meanwhile, Cunanan claimed that he was pressured by Estrada to release government funds to fake foundations linked to alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

 

Senators Estrada, Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. and Juan Ponce Enrile are currently facing plunder charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly pocketing millions in their pork barrel funds through the scam supposedly engineered by Napoles. — Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMA News