Palace sees smear job vs Dennis Cunanan

MANILA - A Palace spokesman on Monday criticized an alleged smear campaign against Technology Resource Center head Dennis Cunanan after he linked three senators to the alleged P10 billion pork barrel scam. Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said reports that Cunanan owns a P40 million mansion are untrue. He said Cunanan's decision to testify in the pork barrel scam is no joke since it puts him and his family under scrutiny. A source earlier told ABS-CBN News that Cunanan lives in a house at a plush subdivision in Quezon City. According to the subdivision directory, the house is registered under "Mr. and Mrs. Darius Cunanan." [PLUSH SUBDIVISION - http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/02/27/14/cunanan-house-upscale-qc-village-not-his-saln] Justice Secretary Leila de Lima earlier said the report is a "demolition job" against Cunanan aimed at preventing his inclusion into the government's Witness Protection Program. Cunanan, who faces a plunder complaint in connection with the pork barrel scam, has applied to become a state witness in the case. "This is probably part of the ongoing demo job against him, in an effort to undermine his credibility as a provisional state witness," de Lima said. "Actually ni-report iyan sa akin ng lawyer ni Dennis Cunanan. Kailan ko nga ba siya ni-announce? Feb 21. I think a few days later ay may sightings of surreptitious filming of a supposed house owned by the family of Mr. Cunanan," she added. Meanwhile, the TRC has reclaimed the agency's vehicle that was being used by Cunanan. Although it belongs to the government, the vehicle has a personalized plate that uses Cunanan's initials. -- with a report from Ina Reformina, ABS-CBN News