MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday sent to Senator Jinggoy Estrada copies of affidavits submitted by whistleblowers in the pork barrel scam.
In a joint order, the Ombudsman granted the request of Estrada’s camp to be furnished copies of the affidavits of the witnesses.
The order was signed by M.A. Christian Uy, chairperson of the Graft Investigation and Prosecution IV, and subsequently approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.
“Finding the request to be in order, this Office GRANTS the request of Estrada who is hereby directed to file his comment on the attached copies of counter-affidavits of Tuason, Cunanan, Amata, Relampagos, Figura, Buenaventura and Sevidal with a non-extendible period of five days from receipt of this Order,†the two page order sent to Estrada’s lawyers read.
Estrada expressed surprised by the Ombudsman's move, reversing its earlier decision on March 27 refusing to provide the senator the affidavits of the whistleblowers.
The Ombudsman's move came a day after Estrada filed a petition before the Supreme Court, asking the high court to nullify the Ombudsman's resolution finding probable cause in filing plunder charges against the senator for his alleged involvement in the pork barrel fund scam.
In a 28-page petition, Estrada cited that the Ombudsman violated his constitutional right to due process when it rejected his request for copies of the affidavits and other documents used in the preliminary investigation.
“So much to my surprise, the Ombudsman furnished us voluminous documents, which we were asking before,†Estrada said.
He said his lawyers informed him earlier today that the Ombudsman had sent the documents.
The senator’s camp was given five non-extendable days to answer the Ombudsman’s joint order.
“I think, they were disturbed because they know they were wrong for not allowing me to have access [to] the counter-affidavits,†Estrada said.
Estrada is now questioning the timing of the Ombudsman's decision to reverse its earlier ruling.
Despite the latest legal developments, Estrada said he is resigned to the eventuality that the Aquino administration is bent on seeing him and the other senators tagged in the scam behind bars.
“Ipagdarasal ko na lang 'yan. Wala tayong magagawa kung kaming tatlo, na kaming tatlo ang pinag-iinitan nitong admin na ito. We cannot fight them, they’re in power. I’m already resigned to that,†Estrada said.
Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Bong Revilla are also facing plunder charges for their supposed involvement in the multi-billion peso fund scam.
Estrada said that if ever he is hauled to jail, he is hoping that he could still continue to work as a senator.
He cited the cases of former president and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.
He debunked the earlier statement by Senate President Franklin Drilon that the three senators will face automatic suspension once charges are filed before the Sandiganbayan.
“I hope dahil si GMA nung nakakulong hindi naman sinuspindi tuloy ang operations ng opisina nya. When Sen. Trillanes was incarcerated tuloy ang opisina nya....,†Estrada added.