Jinggoy asks re links
between Tupas and Tiongson

SENATOR-JUDGE Jinggoy Estrada sought to establish the alleged links between Philippine Savings Bank Katipunan branch manager Annabelle Tiongson and lead prosecutor Niel Tupas.

Tiomgson’s bank branch is where at least ten bank accounts allegedly owned by Chief Justice Renato Corona have been deposited. Prosecutors had earlier submitted to the impeachment court bank documents that appeared to have been leaked from PSBank.

Estrada grilled Tiongson on the witness stand for more than 15 minutes, asking her details about her family, and the relationship of members of her family with the family of Tupas.

Estrada pointed out that Tiongson’s first cousin had been vice governor of Iloilo when the governor was the father of Tupas, Gov. Niel Tupas Sr. Tiongson also hails from Iloilo province.

Estrada then asked if Tiongson knew a Raul Tupas, the brother of prosecutor Niel Tupas Jr. Tiongson then replied that she had never met him, although she had heard of him in the past.

Estrada said Tiongson’s cousin had been the running mate of Raul Tupas in the previous elections. However, Tiongson kept on insisting that she had never met any of the Tupases personally.

This prompted Estrada to warn Tiongson that she could be held liable if she lied while under oath.

“You stand by your answer that you do not know Niel Tupas?” Estrada asked. “We have never been introduced and I have never seen him,” Tiongson replied.

“Be warned that you are under oath, and I hope you do not lie,” Estrada said. “Obvious na obvious na may acquaintance, magkakilala ang pamilya ninyo at pamilya ni Tupas, and you are now denying that you know even one member of Tupas’ family. It is absurd.”

“I reiterate I don’t know any of them,” Tiongson insisted.