Pork whistle blower cries out: I’m here; spare my children

Dennis Cunanan

The latest whistle-blower to come forward in the P10-billion pork barrel scam has one resounding cry: “Spare my children.”

Dennis Cunanan made this appeal on Saturday, after he disclosed that his children were receiving phone calls from unidentified callers, with queries about him and his whereabouts.

Likewise, he reported the sudden presence of male strangers, loitering in the area of his family’s Quezon City residence.

Cunanan’s lawyer, Odessa Bernardo, made this appeal on behalf of her client: “My client says he is no saint. He asks that they deal with him, not his family, particularly his children.”

“He has young children. He is appealing that they be spared,” Bernardo added.

The lawyer confirmed that Cunanan’s young children have been receiving phone calls from strangers, and that security records of the village in which Cunanan’s family resides showed that unidentified men were seen “casing” the house of her client.

“There were unidentified men noted near the house of our client and some of them were seen surreptitiously filming the house,” Bernardo said.

Bernardo stated that the incidents have been reported and were being “amply addressed” by Martin Menes, director of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Witness Protection Program (WPP).

According to Bernardo, her client, although concerned for his and his family’s safety, is confident that the WPP will be able to assure their protection.

Bernardo also appealed to the media not to give specific details of the location and appearance of her client’s house, for the sake of his children’s well-being.

The lawyer further disclosed that there is no truth to the circulating rumours that the house, which she said was owned by Cunanan’s businessman brother, Darius, had been bought for P40 million.

“He confirmed they lived there, but denied the report that the acquisition price was P40 million. It was low because it was acquired years ago,” Bernardo noted.

She added Cunanan’s brother, Darius is “until now is paying the amortization of the bank loan.”

The lawyer committed to release all documents, among these the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth of Cunanan, at the Senate hearing this week.