The Sandiganbayan on Monday chided former senator Jinggoy Estrada for badmouthing whistle-blower Benhur Luy, who testified against the former legislator in the plunder case in connection with the alleged pork barrel scam.
Estrada blurted out, “gago” while Luy was being cross-examined by defense lawyer Paul Mar Arias.
Associate Justice Rafael Lagos heard Estrada said the cuss word, prompting him to tell the former senator, “Mr. Estrada, do not make any side comment. I will cite you in contempt.”
“I am sorry, sir,” replied Estrada, who attended his first hearing after returning from a 31-day trip in the United States.
Arias tried to destroy Luy’s credibility during the cross examination.
Luy earlier testified before the anti-graft court that he had personal knowledge that Estrada received kickbacks when he channeled his Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel projects to the fake non-government organizations of alleged scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles between 2004 to 2012.