Tuason’s immunity not extended to other graft raps

Pork barrel scam state witness Ruby Tuason (left) (Photo from amazingnews.ph)

MANILA — Government Prosecutor Hazel Decena Valdez on Monday reminded the camp of Ruby Tuason that the scope of whistleblower’s immunity does not include other graft and malversation cases she might be charged.

Valdez said during the continuation of bail hearing of detained Senator Jinggoy Estrada at Sandiganbayan that Tuason’s immunity after she had been named as government witness does not save her from prosecution over another corruption scandal, the alleged Malampaya fund scam, where storm victims were deprived of Php900 million in assistance from energy funds after all these funds were purportedly pilfered through Napoles’ bogus NGOs.

Tuazon is the former social secretary of then President Joseph Estrada.

Businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles had tagged Tuason as showing her a list of government funds amounting to Php25 billion, and recommending the Php900 million Malampaya fund that would be coursed through the Department of Agrarian Reform to earn kickbacks.

Tuason is part of the Malampaya fund scam complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman charging plunder against Napoles, former President Gloria Arroyo, former Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, former Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya and his undersecretary Rafael Nieto, former DAR Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, DAR finance officer Teresita Panlilio, and Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos.

Arroyo was implicated by virtue of an Executive Order she issued authorizing the release of the said energy funds into aid for storm victims.