LOS ANGELES – According to his lawyer, seven years ago, actor Mat Ranillo III had already tipped off the Philippine government about the alleged illegal activities of businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles, but nobody bothered to listen to him.
“As early as 2007, Mr. Ranillo had informed our lawmakers about the activities of Mrs. Napoles, but what happened? Nobody listened to him,” Atty. Morel Callueng said in Filipino during an interview with ABS-CBN News’ North America Bureau. He said that Ranillo had approached multiple lawmakers but none of them wanted to hear him out.
According to Callueng, Ranillo was very “disappointed and furstrated” when he found out that whistleblowers Benhur Luy and Ruby Tuason had linked him to the pork barrel scandal.
The lawyer said that Ranillo met Napoles in 2004, when she offered to help in the actor’s bid for Congress as a Zamboanga representative. However, Callueng went on to claim that in 2007, Ranillo had returned to Napoles all that he earned from their dealings. Their camp has the proper documents to support this claim, and Callueng said that they will present those “in due time.”
Callueng said to ABS-CBN News that when Ranillo began to observe the allegedly unscrupulous dealings of Napoles, he decided to part ways with the businesswoman.
In 2009, when he didn’t find anyone in the government who would listen to his expose about Napoles, Ranillo decided to move to the US with his family to start anew.
After Tuason’s testimony, initial reports indicated that the Philippine Senate will look to issue a subpoena to summon Ranillo to a Senate hearing. The Philippine National Bureau of Intelligence has also expressed their interest in investigating Ranillo’s connection to the whole pork barrel scandal, based on the statements of Luy and Tuason.
However, Callueng said that they have yet to receive any official communication from any Philippine government agency regarding this matter.
When asked whether his client looks to return to the Philippines to testify at the Senate, Callueng said that their camp wants to extend their help in the case. However, they still have to consider Ranillo’s security concerns when he returns to the Philippines.
Before their camp helps in the case, they must ensure Ranillo’s security and safety first. Otherwise, coming to the Philippines would be suicide, Callueng said.
“In due time, when we have carefully studied everything, and [Ranillo’s] security is assured, then he can come home. Why not?” Callueng said in Filipino.
According Callueng, Ranillo has a clean conscience and he is prepared to answer the public’s questions when the time comes.
(With reports from Yong Chavez of ABS-CBN North America Bureau)
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend February 22-25, 2014 Sec A pg.1)
