Witness protection on Tuason ‘tactical decision’ – De Lima

State witness Ruby Tuason takes her oath Thursday (Feb. 13, 2014) before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the pork barrel anomaly as Justice Secretary Leila de Lima (right) and whistle-blower Benhur Luy (left) look on. (MNS photo)

MANILA, Feb 17 (Mabuhay) – Justice Secretary Leila M. De Lima on Monday branded as “tactical decision” the action of the Department of Justice-National Bureau of Investigation (DOJ-NBI) to place Ruby Tuason under the provisional coverage of the Witness Protection Program (WPP).

De Lima believes that the testimony of Tuason is a big help to pin down the officials implicated in the pork barrel scam, especially since she has direct knowledge in the delivery and receipt of “kickbacks” from the priority development assistance fund (PDAF).

De Lima explained that the DOJ has considered Tuason as a state witness in order that there will be a successful prosecution of the PDAF scam case.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV earlier expressed doubts that the testimony of Tuason is an alleged act of “sabotage” because Senator Juan Ponce Enrile was allegedly behind her surfacing.

Critics doubted Tuason’s surfacing in the sense that her legal counsel, Atty. Dennis Manalo comes from the Siguion Reyna Montecillo and Ongsiako law office where Enrile is a partner. (MNS)