Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is pushing for heavier penalties against those who induce or force another person to commit perjury, following the recent recantations of “coached witness” Orly Guteza and three of the “Maleta Boys” regarding their statements claiming to have delivered cash in suitcases to certain personalities.
Lacson also sought stricter enforcement of the current Anti-Perjury Law to curb the “lucrative business” of testimonies and recantations, especially those targeting political personalities.
“Orly Guteza’s recantation should not end there. Republic Act No. 11594 which we passed in October 2021 has increased the penalty for perjury to ‘prision mayor’. Further, a person who induces another to commit perjury is also liable for being a principal by inducement,” he said in a post on X.
In Filipino: Lacson: Mas Mabigat na Parusa sa ‘Subornation’ of Perjury Kailangan para Mapigil ang ‘Negosyo’ ng Laban-Bawi na Testimonya
Orly Guteza’s recantation should not end there. Republic Act No. 11594 which we passed in October 2021 has increased the penalty for perjury to ‘prision mayor’. Further, a person who induces another to commit perjury is also liable for being a principal by inducement.
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) August 21, 2026
“I will file a bill imposing heavier penalty and fine for ‘subornation of perjury’ or, if a person induces or forces another to commit perjury,” he added.
He said the person directly offended or prejudiced by the perjury may file such a complaint against those who induced someone else to commit perjury.
“(T)he person directly offended or prejudiced by the perjury may file. In Guteza’s case – ex Speaker Romualdez. If not him for some reason, any public officer charged with enforcing the law,” he said.
To answer your question, I guess, the person directly offended or prejudiced by the perjury may file. In Guteza’s case – ex Speaker Romualdez. If not him for some reason, any public officer charged with enforcing the law.
Pro bono yan, Atty Jess. Haha.
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) August 21, 2026
On Thursday, Lacson said Guteza’s backtracking was “not surprising,” after he observed Sen. Rodante Marcoleta “coaching” Guteza, or prompting him on what to say in Guteza’s affidavit, during the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing chaired by Lacson on Sept. 23 last year.
In recanting his earlier statement, Guteza also claimed that Marcoleta and ex-Rep. Michael Defensor had him “testify” in exchange for money and scholarships for his children.
In the meantime, Lacson underscored the need to strictly implement Republic Act 11594, which imposes heavier prison terms and fines on those who commit perjury.
He noted the backtracking by Guteza and some of the “Maleta boys” had become “a dime a dozen,” and indicate such a practice has become a profitable venture.
“While figuratively, testimonies and recantations are ‘one dime a dozen’ these days, ironically, they have become a lucrative business especially when targeting politicians,” he noted.
Lacson added that he and his fellow lawmakers already increased the penalty for the crime of perjury with the enactment of RA 11594 as a result of the extra-judicial killing (EJK) hearings conducted by the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs in 2021, but “apparently its implementation is wanting.”
Under Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code as amended by RA 11594, false testimony is punishable with prision mayor in its minimum period (six years and one day to eight years), and a fine of P1 million.
If the offender is a public officer or employee, the maximum jail time is increased to 12 years, along with perpetual absolute disqualification from holding any appointive or elective position in government.
Lacson also pointed out that aside from the heavier penalties in the law, the recantations may not necessarily weaken the cases against those implicated.
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Lacson: Mas Mabigat na Parusa sa ‘Subornation’ of Perjury Kailangan para Mapigil ang ‘Negosyo’ ng Laban-Bawi na Testimonya
Isinusulong ni Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson ang mas mabigat na parusa laban sa mga taong humihikayat o pumipilit sa iba na gumawa ng perjury, kasunod ng mga pag-recant kamakailan ni “coached witness” Orly Guteza at tatlo sa “Maleta Boys” hinggil sa kanilang mga pahayag na nagsabing naghatid sila ng pera gamit ang mga maleta sa ilang personalidad.
Nanawagan din si Lacson para sa mas mahigpit na pagpapatupad ng umiiral na Anti-Perjury Law upang mapigil ang “negosyo” ng mga laban-bawi na testimonya, lalo na ang mga nagta-target sa mga personalidad sa pulitika.
“Orly Guteza’s recantation should not end there. Republic Act No. 11594 which we passed in October 2021 has increased the penalty for perjury to ‘prision mayor’. Further, a person who induces another to commit perjury is also liable for being a principal by inducement,” aniya sa isang post sa X.
“I will file a bill imposing heavier penalty and fine for ‘subornation of perjury’ or, if a person induces or forces another to commit perjury,” dagdag niya.
Dagdag niya, ang maaaring magsampa ng reklamo ay ang “directly offended or prejudiced” ng perjury.
“(T)he person directly offended or prejudiced by the perjury may file. In Guteza’s case – ex Speaker Romualdez. If not him for some reason, any public officer charged with enforcing the law,” aniya.
Noong Huwebes, sinabi ni Lacson na hindi nakakagulat ang pag-atras ni Guteza sa kanyang naunang pahayag matapos niyang mapansin ang “coaching” ni Sen. Rodante Marcoleta kay Guteza, o sinasabihan siya kung ano ang dapat niyang sabihin sa kanyang affidavit, sa pagdinig ng Blue Ribbon Committee na pinamunuan ni Lacson noong Setyembre 23 ng nakaraang taon.
Sa kanyang pag-recant sa naunang pahayag, sinabi rin ni Guteza na pinapagsalita umano siya nina Marcoleta at ex-Rep. Michael Defensor kapalit ng pera at mga scholarship para sa kanyang mga anak.
Samantala, binigyang-diin ni Lacson ang pangangailangang mahigpit na ipatupad ang Republic Act No. 11594, na nagtatakda ng mas mabibigat na pagkakakulong at multa para sa mga gumagawa ng perjury.
Aniya, ang pag-atras ni Guteza at ng ilan sa “Maleta Boys” sa kanilang mga pahayag ay naging “a dime a dozen,” at nagpapahiwatig na maaaring naging isang negosyo ang ganitong gawain.
“While figuratively, testimonies and recantations are ‘one dime a dozen’ these days, ironically, they have become a lucrative business especially when targeting politicians,” aniya.
Dagdag ni Lacson, itinaas na niya at ng kanyang mga kapwa mambabatas ang parusa sa krimen ng perjury sa pamamagitan ng pagsasabatas ng RA 11594, kasunod ng mga pagdinig hinggil sa extrajudicial killings (EJK) ng Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs noong 2021, ngunit kulang ito sa implementasyon. “Apparently its implementation is wanting,” aniya.
Sa ilalim ng Article 183 ng Revised Penal Code, na inamyendahan ng RA 11594, ang pagbibigay ng maling testimonya ay may parusang prision mayor sa minimum period nito (anim na taon at isang araw hanggang walong taon), at multang P1 milyon.
Kung ang nagkasala ay isang public officer o empleyado, itataas sa 12 taon ang maximum na pagkakakulong, bukod pa sa perpetual absolute disqualification sa paghawak ng anumang appointive o elective position sa pamahalaan.
Ipinunto rin ni Lacson na bukod sa mas mabibigat na parusang itinatakda ng batas, hindi nangangahulugang awtomatikong hihina ang mga kaso laban sa mga taong nasangkot dahil lamang sa mga recantation.
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