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Primary whistleblower in the multimillion peso pork barrel scam Benhur Luy on Monday testified that Ruby Tuason and actor Matt Ranillo served as a go-betwen for Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles.
During Estradas bail hearing at the Sandiganbayan fifth division, Luy said that Estrada has been coursing his priority development assistance fund through Napoles bogus NGOs, to collect a commission since 2004.
"Since 2004 po hanggang 2014 nagtatransact siya with Madame Napoles. Noong una, may middleman," Luy said during the prosecutions direct examination.
Estrada is currently detained at the Philippine National Police custodial center over charges of graft and plunder. Estrada is accused of diverting millions in public funds to bogus NGOs owned by businesswoman and alleged pork barrel scam operator Napoles.
"Noong 2004 si Mrs. Ruby Tuason yung middle man. Tapos noong 2005, yung magasawang Matt Ranillo po," Luy said.
Luy then narrated that Estradas office staffer, Pauline Labayen, served as middleman from 2008 to 2009, but that Mrs. Tuason re-entered the scheme and liaised between Estrada and Napoles.
Finally, from 2010 to 2012, Liy said that Estrada directly transacted with Napoles.
During the hearing, Estrada was visibly agitated and irritated, at times consulting with his lawyer. After the hearing, the senator explained that he was annoyed because Luy was lying.
The senator again refuted Luys claims that he personally saw Estrada sign an endorsement letter during a 2012 party.
"Unang una yung pag pirma ko daw sa dokumento na nage-endorse. Paulit ulit kong sinasabing I never knew him. Up to this day, di ko siya kilala. How can he let me sign a document in a party? I never sign documents sa parties. Thats not the appropriate time for me to sign any document," Estrada said.
Estrada also denied that he had middlemen to transact with Napoles, adding that he did not know Ranillo.
During Estradas bail hearing at the Sandiganbayan fifth division, Luy said that Estrada has been coursing his priority development assistance fund through Napoles bogus NGOs, to collect a commission since 2004.
"Since 2004 po hanggang 2014 nagtatransact siya with Madame Napoles. Noong una, may middleman," Luy said during the prosecutions direct examination.
Estrada is currently detained at the Philippine National Police custodial center over charges of graft and plunder. Estrada is accused of diverting millions in public funds to bogus NGOs owned by businesswoman and alleged pork barrel scam operator Napoles.
"Noong 2004 si Mrs. Ruby Tuason yung middle man. Tapos noong 2005, yung magasawang Matt Ranillo po," Luy said.
Luy then narrated that Estradas office staffer, Pauline Labayen, served as middleman from 2008 to 2009, but that Mrs. Tuason re-entered the scheme and liaised between Estrada and Napoles.
Finally, from 2010 to 2012, Liy said that Estrada directly transacted with Napoles.
During the hearing, Estrada was visibly agitated and irritated, at times consulting with his lawyer. After the hearing, the senator explained that he was annoyed because Luy was lying.
The senator again refuted Luys claims that he personally saw Estrada sign an endorsement letter during a 2012 party.
"Unang una yung pag pirma ko daw sa dokumento na nage-endorse. Paulit ulit kong sinasabing I never knew him. Up to this day, di ko siya kilala. How can he let me sign a document in a party? I never sign documents sa parties. Thats not the appropriate time for me to sign any document," Estrada said.
Estrada also denied that he had middlemen to transact with Napoles, adding that he did not know Ranillo.