Ruby Tuason testimony weak from GMA News
Ruby Tuason, the social sec implicated for the PDAF scandal being pointed by another whistle blower as having received more than half billion in commission has nothing conclusive, no material evidence to link the good senators to the scandal. "Nagkita po kami sa restaurant" Nothing in her action or testimony links/lead the senator to the crime. At the end of the day, she and Janet will go to jail.
Sorry for you D o J.
From Rappler - Binay says prosecution case weak
Lawyer Trixie Cruz-Angeles, spokesperson for the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, believes otherwise.
“Even though it is an eyewitness account, her [Tuason] testimony, taken on its own, is weak," Angeles, a defense lawyer for almost 15 years, told GMA News Online in a phone interview.
“Calling it a 'bull's eye' or 'three-point-shot' testimony? That's wishful thinking... my opinion on this (Tuason's testimony) may be infamous, but it's an honest opinion," she added.
She said an eyewitness account that is not corroborated by evidence is weak and would not prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
“She must at least present something to support her testimony. How can we be assured of the veracity of what she's saying?" Angeles said.
“Like Tuason, Chavit is also an insider, he is part of the scam, of the illegal transactions. The difference is, apart from his testimony, he has a ledger or his own logbook of these transactions and this greatly supported his testimony,” Angeles pointed out.
She also noted that the logbook “did not even have the signatures of the accused or the people he was transacting with, but the court accepted it as evidence," she added.
Subject to flaws
Angeles said testimony, also called anecdotal evidence, is subject to many flaws such as frailty of memory, personal biases and motives.
She said these flaws were apparent during the blue ribbon committee hearing, pointing out that Tuason “cannot even give at least an estimate of how much she handed to Estrada or to Reyes.”
“While these (transactions) may have happened a few years ago, she should at least remember the approximate amounts," Angeles said.
Angeles said that though Tuason might resort to the excuse of no longer having a sharp memory, this excuse may also be used against her.
“That might cast doubt [on] her own testimony... Did she really meet with Estrada? Was it really in his Senate office? Maybe they met for another matter? These kinds of things are also subject to inconsistencies due to failing memory," Angeles said.
She also expressed doubt on Tuason's statement during the hearing that she did not keep a ledger to record her transactions with Estrada and Reyes.
“These were no ordinary transactions. Millions of pesos were involved and she did not even keep a personal record?" Angeles said, adding Tuason's motive for testifying must also be carefully examined.
“We should remember that she is a co-accused in the plunder raps before the Office of the Ombudsman. She admitted that she does not want to go to jail, she wants to be exonerated,” Angeles stressed. — with Amita Legaspi/JDS/KBK, GMA News
