MANILA-In light of the recent developments including the emergence of new testimonies of Ruby Tuason and Dennis Cunanan, Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada shared during the weekly Kapihan sa Senado media conference that he is requesting copies of counter affidavits of the new witnesses in the so-called pork barrel scam.
Sen. Estrada formally requested before the Office of the Ombudsman that he be furnished with the sworn affidavits of Mrs. Tuason and Mr. Cunanan, wherein the two respondents who eventually became recruited witnesses of the Department of Justice and National Bureau of Investigation made certain allegations against the lawmaker with regard to his purported participation in the scam.
Jinggoy said that there may be a need to answer and refute the allegations made by the provisional witnesses in their respective affidavits, subsequent to his filing of his own counter affidavit last January.
Tuason filed her affidavit before the Office of the Ombudsman last February 9, shortly after her return to the country from the United States. Cunanan, on the other hand, prepared his sworn statement on February 20 as reported by the media.
Sen. Estrada says that he is waiting to be officially provided copies of the said documents, including the Consolidated Reply of the complainant NBI, and that he may issue a formal response before the Ombudsman given the false claims made against him which are not stated in the original charges.
“I hope that we will be given the chance by the Ombudsman to examine the evidence and properly respond to the allegations made by the new witnesses,” Jinggoy said.
