Lawyer: Tuason tagged new names in 'pork' scam

MANILA, Philippines - Ruby Tuason tagged new names in the "pork barrel" scam and strengthened the findings of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in her sworn affidavit submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman, her lawyer said Friday.

Lawyer Dennis Manalo said that his client gave dates and places along with the identities of the new players in the multi-billion pork barrel scam, but declined to reveal the names.

"I can confirm that insofar that the Department of Justice is concerned, Mrs. Ruby Tuason's statements corroborated on ... all of its material points," Manalo said.

Earlier: Tuason now a 'provisional' state witness

"Insofar as the essential or material personalities are concerned, they are corroborated ... Yes, there will be other names," Manalo said in a televised interview with reporters.

Manalo was also suggesting that those who have been tagged in the current case were also mentioned by Tuason in her affidavit.

Tuason, who returned to the Philippines early Friday morning to present herself at the DOJ, was said to have represented Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile in the fraudulent transactions using the Priority Development Assistance Funds with bogus non-government organizations allegedly set up by businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles.

The lawyer also mentioned that her client is no longer a respondent in the plunder, malversation, graft and bribery charges filed by the DOJ and the National Bureau of Investigation.

Read: Summary of plunder, malversation complaints vs 8 lawmakers

He said he is confident that Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales would find Tuason's affidavit of value.

"The presence of these two heads of these delicate agencies means a lot ... They [have given] full value in the process and in all the statement that have been released today," Manalo said.

'Referral' fees to be returned

Tuason has also promised to return the money she earned as referral fees in the anomalous transactions.

"Isasauli niya anumang halaga .... There will be no bargaining. It will simply be an arrangement o how the process will take place," Manalo said.

De Lima, meanwhile, said that the return of the public funds is among the conditions that Tuason has to fulfill to be granted the status of state witness.

"She committed to return a certain amount, yung sinasabi niyang naging share din niya dun sa pagri-refer ng mga proyekto sa mga lawmakers na in-implicate niya," De Lima said.

Also read: The pork modus operandi, according to NBI