Whistleblower flip-flops on involvement of admin allies in ‘pork’ scam

Testifying for the last time before the Sandiganbayan Third Division on Friday, whistleblower Merlina Suñas again drew the ire of justices for her conflicting statements regarding the alleged involvement of some administration allies in the alleged pork barrel scam.

During the day's hearing, Suñas admitted that Budget Secretary Florencio "Butch" Abad used to be a "client" of  businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, the scam's alleged mastermind. The Third Division was hearing her petition to post bail for her plunder case.

But upon further questioning by Napoles' lawyer Dennis Buenaventura, Suñas said there was no transaction between Abad, formerly a Batanes lawmaker, and Napoles.

"Based on your sworn affidavit, Abad was a client of Napoles from 1997 to 1999. Can you tell the court about the transactions between Abad and Napoles?" Buenaventura asked.

"Wala pong transaksyon si Madame kay Congressman Abad," Suñas replied.

Suñas' statement drew the ire of Third Division chairman Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang and Associate Justice Alex Quiroz.

"You said Abad was a client of Napoles, now you are saying that there was no transaction between the two? May I know your definition of a client?" Tang asked.

"Kliyente po siya ni Madame, pero maaring hindi rin po, kasi wala pong transaksyon na natuloy," Suñas said.

Suñas' vague explanation irked Quiroz, who shook his head and remarked: "It's like differentiating a friend, a best friend and friend forever."

Suñas, who has been testifying before the Third Division since February, has repeatedly irked the justices for her conflicting statements and "selective memory," as one justice put it, telling the court that she can no longer recall details of the scheme that saw billions of Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel of some lawmakers funneled to fake foundations allegedly owned by Napoles.

As the hearing progressed, Suñas also admitted that former CIBAC party-list Rep. and current Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) chairman Joel Villanueva also used to be a client of Napoles from 2010 to 2012.

She, however, said: “Hindi ko na po maalala kung anong taon talaga, 2007 to 2009 po yata."

When asked again by Tang for her "final answer," Suñas looked at the direction of the prosecution team and answered: "2007 to 2009, your honor."

Suñas told the court she was not privy to the transactions between Napoles and Villanueva.

Suñas was a former employee of Napoles' JLN Corporation and was former president of People’s Organization for Progress and Development Foundation Inc (POPDFI), one of the fake foundations allegedly owned by Napoles where millions of PDAF were allegedly coursed through.

Suñas was also tight-lipped on the possible involvement of President Benigno Aquino III's aunt, former Senator Tessie Aquino-Oreta, in the scam.

"How about Tessie Oreta? Was she a client of Napoles?" Buenaventura asked.

"I cannot recall, sir," Suñas replied.

Abad, Villanueva and Oreta had earlier been tagged in the pork barrel scam, as it has been reported that their names appeared on the ledger of whistleblower Benhur Luy and on the personal notebook of Napoles that she gave to Justice Secretary Leila De Lima last year when she was still vying to be a state witness.

It has also been reported last year that it was through Abad that Napoles learned about the elaborate scheme to divert the PDAF of lawmakers to fake foundations in the guise of various projects especially in the countryside.

Abad had earlier denied the reports.

Suñas also enumerated other names of former and incumbent lawmakers who had transactions with Napoles, but told the court that she can no longer recall their full names.

Among the former senators mentioned by Suñas were Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel, Ramon Revilla Sr., Loi Ejercito and the late Robert Barbers.

Meanwhile, the incumbent senators mentioned were Jinggoy Estrada, Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., Juan Ponce Enrile and Gringo Honasan.

Estrada, Revilla Jr. and Enrile are already detained for plunder and graft charges in connection with the pork barrel scam.

Meanwhile, the former and incumbent congressmen mentioned by Suñas were certain Estrella, Ortega, Ducut, Fuentebella, Umali, Plaza, Pichay, Fabian and Ungab. —KBK, GMA News