Sandiganbayan disallows pork barrel scam witness’ US trip

Ruby Tuason, former social secretary of former president Joseph Ejercito Estrada and witness to the celebrated pork barrel and Malampaya scams (Photo courtesy of Bam Aquino FB Page/PNA Photo)

MANILA — The Sandiganbayan did not grant the plea of Ruby Tuason, former social secretary of former president Joseph Ejercito Estrada and witness to the celebrated pork barrel and Malampaya scams, to allow her to travel to Los Angeles, California, United States for an eye operation.

The Sandiganbayan 3rd Division did not allow Tuason to travel to the United States from March 22, 2018 to May 5, 2018, to undergo medical treatment and for her recovery from such treatment.

The Sandiganbayan said it was not stated in the request of Tuason where she would stay while in Los Angeles, California.

Aside from this, the anti-graft court said, the travel request of the accused is for a period of more than one month or 45 days.

In her travel motion, Tuason’s legal counsel, lawyer Dennis Manalo, included the medical certification from Dr. Ma. Dominga Padilla of St. Luke’s Medical Center.

The medical certification states that there are “corneal decompensation/corneal edema and nuclear cataract” in the left eye of Tuason.

Manalo said Tuason was supposed to undergo an operation at the University of California in Los Angeles and to rest and recover in the house of her family in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He added that Tuason had no intention of escaping from the cases she is facing because she is a state witness in the case against former Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Jose “Jinggoy” P. Estrada.