ONE of the whistleblowers in the pork barrel fund scam on Wednesday linked Energy Regulatory Commission Chairperson Zenaida Ducut to alleged scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles.
Merlina Sunas, after her absence from last Monday’s bail hearing due to over-fatigue, was able to take the witness stand before the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division and testified that Ducut accompanied Napoles in her series of visits at the House of Representatives.
Sunas said she personally witnessed how Ducut would escort Napoles during those rounds of visits.
Suñas also claimed she was with Napoles and Ducut when they went to the offices of some lawmakers whose surnames were Estrella and Romualdo as two of Napoles’ clients to fund several of her foundations’ ghost projects.
Associate Justice Amparao Cabotaje Tang, Third Division chairperson, questioned the witness if the word “rounds” would mean to transfer from one office to another.
“Yes, she (Napoles) was with Congresswoman Ducut, but I was not allowed to go inside (the office),” Suñas told the anti-graft court.
She, however, said she was not allowed to listen to the discussions between Napoles and the lawmakers.
Napoles, who was present during the bail hearing, through her counsel denied the witness’ testimony.
In another development, former lawmaker Samuel Dangwa of Benguet on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to charges of graft and malversation filed against him with the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division.
His son—Erwin Dangwa, former chief of staff—and alleged pork barrel fund scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles also pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The ex legislator is facing six counts of graft case, six counts of malversation and five counts of bribery for allegedly receiving P26.7 million in kickbacks from his Priority Development Assistance Fund.
On Feb. 11, the Dangwas posted a P530,000 bail each for their provisional liberty.
The elder Dangwa was among the second batch of lawmakers sued by the Office of the Ombudsman before the Sandiganbayan for their
alleged involvement in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam.
The other lawmakers were former Masbate representative and incumbent Masbate Gov. Rizalina Seachon-Lanete, former APEC party-list representative Edgar Valdez, former Cagayan de Oro representative Constantino Jaraula and former Agusan del Sur representative Rodolfo Plaza.