Ruby Tuason invited to Senate pork barrel scam probe

MANILA, Philippines - Ruby Tuason will be asked to attend the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigation on the multi-billion peso pork barrel scam that will resume next week.

Committee chairman Sen. Teofisto Guingona III said the next hearing on the pork barrel scam will be on February 13 and Tuason "will be invited to shed more light on the issue."

Tuason, a former employee of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, is among those charged with plunder over the pork barrel and Malampaya fund scams. She returned to the country  early Friday morning.

In a phone-patch interview on ANC, lawyer Dennis Manalo said her client left the Philippines because she was afraid of the possible consequences that could happen to her as a result of her involvement in the case.

"What made her return is that she wanted to clear her conscience and do whatever it takes to be able to achieve her goal," Manalo said.

Manalo said in earlier reports that Tuason will testify against the suspected scam operators as she is ready to divulge all her knowledge on the controversies.

He said Tuason has already made a sworn statement and is now under the witness protection program of the Department of Justice.

Manalo added that Tuason is also willing to return her alleged kickbacks from the scams.

"She declared that she is willing to return whatever amount that she may have received by virtue of these transactions," Manalo said.

Whistleblower Marina Sula has accused Tuason of facilitating the diversion of the pork barrel funds of Estrada and Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile to the bogus foundations of businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged scam mastermind.

Estrada, Enrile and Sen. Bong Revilla Jr. are all facing plunder charges over the pork barrel scam.