Investigate DOJ’s suspect decision on Cunanan

I am writing this letter in my humble capacity as a concerned resident of Magalang, Pampanga, the hometown of former Technology Resource Center (TRC) director general and now “temporary state’s witness” in the case of the so-called “pork barrel scam”—Dennis Cunanan.

Cunanan is not the first of the accused in the pork barrel case to apply for state’s witness status. As state’s witness, he would be entitled to certain benefits—including immunity from criminal prosecution. However, before being accepted as a state’s witness, his background should be thoroughly checked.

As a former director general of the TRC, it was very unlikely that Cunanan didn’t know about the pork barrel scam, specifically the PDAF funds that were released through the TRC, or putting it another way, that were plundered right under his very own nose. Likewise, it seems unbelievable that he did not receive any “kickbacks” from those TRC-coursed transactions.

As a resident of Magalang, I can attest to the fact that Cunanan comes from a middle-class family in this town. So, it should be relevant for the concerned authorities to ask or verify the following: Is it true that aside from properties in Metro Manila, Cunanan owns several properties, including a 20-hectare fishpond, in this town?

Cunanan’s sudden rise in wealth would have been easily acceptable if not for the fact that his name has been dragged into the PDAF scam. Cunanan should be investigated. As a citizen and taxpayer of this country, I humbly call on the relevant offices and authorities to check on his lifestyle and look more deeply into whether or not he did benefit from the pork barrel scam.

I also call for an investigation of the Department of Justice’s decision to accept Cunanan as a temporary state’s witness, considering that he appears to have benefited much from stolen government funds.

—DOMINADOR DE GUZMAN,

Ayala, Municipality of Magalang, Pampanga