BI: Tuason went to HK on March 2

MANILA, Philippines - Pork scam whistleblower and provisional state witness Ruby Tuason went to Hong Kong on March 2 amid the ongoing probe on the P10-billion case, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed on Wednesday.

BI spokesperson Maan Pedro said Tuason left the country onboard a Cathay Pacific Cx901 which arrived in Hong Kong at 8:04 p.m.

Tuason is facing a plunder charge before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly receiving over P200 million in kickbacks from the Malampaya fund scam. She returned to the country from the United States and applied to the witness protection program in exchange for her testimony. She admitted to personally delivering kickbacks from alleged pork scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles to Senator Jinggoy Estrada and Gigi Reyes, the former chief-of-staff of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile.

Tuason worked as the social secretary of former President Joseph Estrada before her involvement in the scam.

Senator Teofisto Guingona III, chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee which heard Tuason's testimony, said the committee does not need her as of the moment.

"Wala na kaming nakikita pang information na kailangan pa sa kanya," he said.