MANILA, Philippines - Another key whistle-blower in the pork barrel fund scam on Friday dropped lawyer Levito Baligod as legal counsel in the case.
In a one-page letter addressed to Baligod, Merlina Suñas said she has decided to continue her battles without Baligod guiding her.
Suñas told Baligod: “I am thankful that for more than a year now, you have stood beside me despite all the difficulties that we encountered along the way. Regrettably, I have decided to continue my battles without you guiding me.â€
“With deepest gratitude for our friendship, I formally release you from your obligation to litigate on my behalf and to represent me as my legal counsel effective 23 May, 2014,†Suñas wrote.
The National Bureau of Investigation, which handles the pork barrel scam investigation, forwarded a copy of the letter to the Office of the Ombudsman.
Suñas is the second whistle-blower to drop Baligod. She followed the decision of principal whistle-blower Benhur Luy, who let go of the lawyer last March.
Suñas, Luy and four other witnesses blew the whistle on businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, the accused mastermind of the scam where lawmakers allegedly embezzled billions of public funds through ghost projects and dubious nongovernment organizations.