Ruby Tuason attends Senate hearing

MANILA – Socialite and former Palace aide Ruby Tuason arrived in the Senate Thursday morning to answer questions involving the alleged misuse of pork barrel funds. The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee earlier invited Tuason Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, and pork barrel scam whistle-blowers Benhur Luy, Marina Sula, Merlina Sunas, and Gertrudes Luy to the hearing as the former Estrada aide emerged to shed more light in the scandal that has rocked the nation. Tuason has admitted to acting as a conduit between alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles and Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile. She has also dragged actor Mat Ranillo III into the controversy. In her affidavit submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation, Tuason claimed Ranillo delivered over 11 million pesos in alleged pork barrel kickbacks to a friend of the Estrada family identified as Justa Tantoco. Tuason claimed the money was meant for Sen. Estrada as kickbacks from his pork barrel funds that were funneled to non-government organizations set up by Napoles. De Lima said Ranillo also received payment vouchers from JLN Corporation, which is owned by Napoles. Pork scam whistle-blowers lawyer Levito Baligod, meanwhile, said Luy told him that Ranillo introduced Napoles to members of the House of Representatives. Aside from Estrada and Enrile, Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., and several lawmakers and government officials are facing plunder and malversation charges over the P10 billion scam. Napoles, Estrada, Enrile, and Revilla have denied the allegations of corruption and plunder.