Good morning! Seats already reserved for Senate panelists, witnesses, whistle-blowers including Benhur Luy and, of course, Ruby Chan Tuason.
At this rate, the event will be delayed. It's already 8:41 and the announcement yesterday was that it would start at 9:00 a.m.
While we wait, a quick survey.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima will be sitting beside Tuason and Luy.
Seems like we're starting in a while, after all.
Tuason's lawyer Dennis Manalo said that his client is prepared to divulge everything connected with the scam.
We have already heard of some of the things she stated in her affidavit submitted to the DOJ and Ombudsman. She had said that she brought kickbacks to the Senate for Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile.
JUST IN: Senators Enrile and Estrada have said they are not attending.
Senator Guingona, chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, already arrived.
Justice Secretary Lela de Lima has starting greeting people. She's wearing a scarf (her signature accessory) and a black and white animal print dress.
This is the fourth public Senate hearing on the pork barrel scam. The first was with whistle-blower Benhur Luy, second with Janet Lim Napoles, third with COA Chairperson Grace Pulido Tan and now with new whistle-blower Ruby Tuason.
Ruby Tuason has entered the hall. She looks refreshed unlike her first appearance as soon as she arrived from the US.
Benhur Luy already in the hall. Still wearing a bulletproof vest.
Tuason is not wearing a bulletproof vest.
Guingona started his opening statement in Filipino.
Guingona: I would like to thank 2 persons--Sec Leila de Lima for lending your full support to the committee.
Guingona: Thank you Ms Ruby Tuason for volunteering to help the DOJ get to the bottom of these controversies surrounding the alleged misuse and abuse of the money of the people.
Guingona: Ms Tuason, mahalaga po ang pagdalo ninyo.
Guingona: Ano ba ang nangyari? Paano ito nangyari? Sino ang dapat managot sa mga nangyari? Ano ang dapat gawin upang hindi na maulit ang mga nangyari?
Reminds me of journalists' 5Ws and H.
Guingona: Hindi lang ito tanong ng Senate Blue Ribbon Comm, ito rin ang tanong ng taong bayan.
Guingona: Magtulungan po tayo. Umpisan po natin ang pagdinig
Opening statement now of Tuason.
Tuason: I risk my personal safety without any promise of immunity.
Tuason: My admission to the country's witness protection program is merely provisional.
Tuason: My critics claim that I (surface) merely as an escape from confiment.
Tuason: I also will the best for the country.
Tuason: I return in hopes of absolution for my wrongs.
Tuason: A senator says that my return is done is spite.
Tuason: Why did I offer to return the assets acquired from arrangements of mrs Napoles
Tuason: My mistake was grave and selfish. The decision haunts me with regret. My conscience can no longer take it.
Tuason: I choose to prioritize (urgent truth).
Tuason: All the things that I know are present in my affidavit. It was my personal decision to reveal them. I deleted nothing nor added nothing to the facts.
Tuason says she's now prepared to answer questions.
