A whistle-blower in the much-publicized pork barrel scam in the Philippines has recanted her earlier statement about the involvement of former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
On the second day of the defense presentation, Marina Sula told the Sandiganbayan First Division that Benhur Luy only forged Revilla’s signature in endorsement letters and other documents.
“Ngayon lang po lumuwag ang loob ko. Noon kasi pigil na pigil lahat. Pero nung nabasa ko ‘yung transcript of stenographic notes, mayroon po siyang mga maling sinabi,” Sula said, referring to Luy.
She also said that she never personally met the former senator and did not saw him personally getting “kickbacks” from her boss Janet Napoles dubbed as the pork barrel queen.
The prosecutors admitted that they had an idea that Sula would recant her statements against Revilla days before the hearing.
“In a way, parang dini-disown na niya ‘yung ebidensya namin laban kay Revilla. Dati sana kung sinabi niya ‘yun na wala siyang alam, eh di sana hindi namin siya kinuhang witness,” Deputy Special Prosecutor Manuel Soriano told the media.
Sula was warned by Associate Justice Edgardo Caldona that she could risk losing her state protection through the Witness Protection Program (WPP) for her latest statements.
Asked why she recanted, the whistle-blower said former prosecutor Joefferson Toribio coached her into corroborating Luy’s testimonies.
