Sworn affidavits of PDAF witness Marina Sula, different from her testimony in court

Summary

During the bail hearing of former Epic Party-list representative Edgar Valdez, inconsistencies were noted by his legal counsel in the testimonies of state witness Marina Sula. Initially, Sula's affidavit to the Department of Justice did not implicate Valdez in the PDAF scam, but in court, she claimed witnessing Valdez receiving commissions. When confronted, Sula cited confusion. Valdez's team remains silent on cross-examination plans, with Sula set to continue her testimony on June 30.

Takeaways

• 👤 The legal counsel for former Epic party-list representative Edgar Valdez noticed inconsistencies in the testimonies of a key witness, Marina Sula.
• 📜 In her affidavit to the Department of Justice, Sula did not initially include Valdez's name on the list of lawmakers allegedly involved in the MUMFIE under transactions in the PDAF scam.
• 🗣️ Sula later testified in court that Valdez had indeed been involved, which was a contradiction to her earlier affidavit.
• 👁️ Sula previously claimed to have personally seen Valdez receiving commissions at the house of Janet Napoles, but later stated it happened at the office of Jiggle Incorporation.
• 🤔 When confronted with these inconsistencies, Sula explained that she was confused during the direct examination.
• 🎓 Attorney Joel Ferreira, representing Valdez, highlighted these contradictions in Sula's testimonies.
• 🚫 Valdez's camp has not yet released their plans for the cross-examination of Sula.
• 📅 Sula is scheduled to face the anti-graft court again on June 30 for the continuance of her testimony.
• 🏛️ The testimonies are part of the proceedings before the Sandiganbayan's 5th Division.
• 📡 The news report emphasizes balanced reporting, suggesting an attempt to present all sides of the story without bias.
• 📌 The case involves serious allegations of corruption and misuse of public funds, highlighting the importance of accurate and consistent testimonies in legal proceedings.

Q & A

Who is the legal counsel for former Epic party-list representative Edgar Valdez?

The legal counsel for former Epic party-list representative Edgar Valdez is attorney Joel Ferreira.

What was the main issue raised by Valdez's counsel during the bail hearing?

Valdez's counsel noticed inconsistencies in the testimonies of the witness Marina Sula regarding her sworn statements submitted to the Department of Justice and her statements in court.

What was the discrepancy in Marina Sula's affidavit regarding Congressman Valdez?

In her affidavit, Marina Sula did not include the name of Congressman Valdez on the list of lawmakers who allegedly endorsed the Magsasaka Foundation Incorporated (MUMFIE) under transactions in the PDAF scam.

How did Marina Sula's testimony in court differ from her earlier statements?

In court, Marina Sula stated that she saw Valdez getting his commissions at the office of Jiggle Incorporation, whereas earlier she claimed to have seen him at the house of Janet Napoles a couple of times.

What was Marina Sula's explanation for the inconsistencies in her testimony?

Marina Sula explained that she was confused during the direct examination in court, which led to the inconsistencies.

What is the significance of the term 'PDAF scam' in this context?

The PDAF scam refers to the misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), a lump-sum budget given to legislators in the Philippines for projects in their districts, which was allegedly involved in fraudulent transactions.

What is the role of the Sandiganbayan in this case?

The Sandiganbayan is the anti-graft court in the Philippines where the bail hearing for the former Epic party-list representative Edgar Valdez is being held.

When is Marina Sula expected to face the anti-graft court again?

Marina Sula is expected to face the anti-graft court again on June 30 for the continuance of her testimony.

What was the Valdez camp's stance on the inconsistencies pointed out by their counsel?

The Valdez camp refused to give their statement on their plans for the cross-examination of Marina Sula on the coming days.

What is the role of the Department of Justice in this case?

The Department of Justice is where Marina Sula initially submitted her sworn statements, which later became a point of contention due to inconsistencies in her court testimony.

How does the script describe the reporting style of Y News?

The script describes the reporting style of Y News as 'choice, balanced reporting'.