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

UNTV News and Rescue

16 Jun 201501:32

Summary

TLDRDuring 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'.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Inconsistencies in Testimonies of Valdez's Legal Counsel

The script discusses a legal discrepancy in the case of former Epic Party-list representative Edgar Valdez. His legal counsel, Attorney Joel Ferreira, has identified inconsistencies in the testimonies of a key witness, Marina Sula, in the bail hearing before the Sandiganbayan's 5th division. Initially, Sula's affidavit did not include Valdez's name among the lawmakers allegedly involved in the Masa Ghana scam. However, she later claimed in court that Valdez had received commissions from the NGO involved in the scam. When confronted with these inconsistencies, Sula explained that she was confused during her direct examination. Valdez's team has not yet disclosed their strategy for cross-examining Sula, who is expected to continue her testimony on June 30th.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Legal Counsel

Legal counsel refers to a legal advisor or attorney who provides professional advice and representation in legal matters. In the context of the video, the legal counsel of former Epic Party-list Representative Edgar Valdez is involved in scrutinizing the testimonies and evidence presented in court, highlighting inconsistencies in the case.

💡Inconsistencies

Inconsistencies refer to discrepancies or contradictions between different statements or pieces of evidence. The script mentions that Valdez's legal counsel noticed inconsistencies in the testimonies of the witness, which is a crucial aspect of the video's theme as it questions the reliability of the witness's statements.

💡Testimonies

Testimonies are formal statements made by a witness under oath, usually in a court of law. The video focuses on the testimonies of the witness Marina Sula, which are being analyzed for inconsistencies, and are central to the legal proceedings against Edgar Valdez.

💡Potassium Witness

The term 'potassium witness' is likely a typographical error in the script and should be 'key witness'. A key witness is an individual whose testimony is considered crucial to the outcome of a legal case. Marina Sula is referred to as such in the script, indicating her importance in the case against Valdez.

💡Affidavit

An affidavit is a sworn written statement made under oath, typically used as evidence in court. In the script, Sula's affidavit is mentioned as not including Valdez's name, which is a point of contention raised by Valdez's counsel.

💡Endorsement

Endorsement in a legal context can refer to a public support or approval, often related to financial transactions or affiliations. The script discusses the alleged endorsement of a foundation by lawmakers, which is part of the allegations against Valdez.

💡MASA Ghana Foundation

The MASA Ghana Foundation is mentioned in the script as an NGO involved in the transactions related to the PDF scam. It is the organization that Valdez is alleged to have endorsed, which is a key element in the legal case against him.

💡Commissions

Commissions here refer to a percentage or amount of money paid or to be paid for executing a transaction or arranging a deal. The script mentions that Valdez allegedly received commissions from the NGO, which is part of the corruption allegations.

💡Cross-Examination

Cross-examination is the process in a trial where the attorney for one party questions a witness presented by the opposing party. The script indicates that Sula will be subject to cross-examination in the coming days, which is a critical part of the legal process to test the credibility of her testimony.

💡Anti-Graft Court

An anti-graft court is a judicial body specifically established to handle cases related to corruption. In the script, Sula is expected to face the anti-graft court, highlighting the serious nature of the allegations and the specialized jurisdiction of the court.

💡Continuance

Continuance refers to the postponement or rescheduling of a court hearing or trial. The script mentions the continuance of Sula's testimony, indicating that the legal proceedings are ongoing and will resume at a later date.

Highlights

Legal counsel for former Epic Party-list Rep. Edgar Valdez noticed inconsistencies in the testimonies of a key witness.

Witness Marina Sula's testimonies were inconsistent with her affidavit submitted to the Department of Justice.

Sula initially did not include Valdez's name in her affidavit but later mentioned it in court.

Valdez's attorney, Joel Ferreira, pointed out the inconsistencies in Sula's statements.

Sula claimed to have seen Valdez at the office of Jiggle Incorporation to receive commissions, contradicting her earlier statement.

In court, Sula admitted to being confused during her direct examination, which led to inconsistencies.

Valdez's camp has not yet disclosed their plans for the cross-examination of Sula.

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

The case involves the alleged endorsement of the Magsasaka Foundation, Incorporated (MUMFIE) in the PDAF scam.

The testimonies are part of the bail hearing for former Epic Party-list Rep. Edgar Valdez before the Sandiganbayan 5th Division.

The inconsistencies could potentially impact the credibility of Sula's testimony in the case.

Valdez's legal team is expected to use these inconsistencies to challenge Sula's credibility in the cross-examination.

The PDAF scam is a significant political corruption case in the Philippines involving misuse of funds.

The case highlights the complexities and challenges in handling testimonies in high-profile corruption cases.

The Sandiganbayan 5th Division is known for handling graft and corruption cases in the Philippines.

The outcome of the case could have implications for the fight against corruption in the country.

Y News provides balanced reporting on the ongoing legal proceedings.