Detained Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and ex-Rep. Michael Defensor may face a complaint for subornation of perjury in connection with the “coached” testimony of ex-Marine Orly Guteza before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee last year, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.
Lacson said the sequence of events during the Blue Ribbon hearing showed Marcoleta prompting Guteza on what to say in Guteza’s affidavit concerning his alleged delivery of cash in suitcases to certain personalities including former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
“Kung titingnan natin ang ebidensya, takbo ng pangyayari, nangyari ito noong pagdinig ng BRC na maliwanag kino-coach ni Sen Marcoleta. So isa siya sa pwedeng kasuhan ng subornation of perjury (If you look at the evidence and the sequence of events, it was clear that during the Blue Ribbon hearing, Marcoleta was ‘coaching’ Guteza. So Marcoleta could be one of those facing a complaint for subornation of perjury),” Lacson said in an interview on DWIZ radio.
In Filipino: Lacson: Marcoleta, Defensor Maaaring Humarap sa Reklamong Subornation of Perjury Kaugnay ng ‘Flip-Flop’ ni Guteza
“Oo tama yan, kung may mag-file (Yes that’s right, if someone will file a complaint),” he added when asked if Marcoleta and Defensor can be held liable after Guteza claimed both induced him to testify in exchange for money and scholarship for his children.
Lacson said those who may file the complaints include Romualdez, who was implicated in Guteza’s initial statement.
He said the Department of Justice and Office of the Ombudsman may also initiate a preliminary investigation into possible perjury charges against those behind Guteza’s initial testimony, perjury being a public crime.
“Pwede silang mag-initiate ng pagsagawa ng preliminary investigation sa kasong perjury laban sa mga tao sa likod (The Office of the Ombudsman and the DOJ can initiate a preliminary investigation for perjury against those involved, including those behind them),” he said.
Lacson reiterated his push for heavier penalties against those who induce or force another person to commit perjury, to teach them a painful lesson and to curb what he described as a lucrative business.
On Friday, he said he plans to file a bill imposing heavier penalties and fines for subornation of perjury.
“Dapat talaga magkaroon ng leksyon ang mga nagsasagawa niyan kasi may batas tayong sumasaklaw diyan (pero) walang natutuluyang kasuhan (There should be a lesson for those involved in perjury. We have a law providing penalties against it but it has yet to be implemented properly),” he said.
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Lacson: Marcoleta, Defensor Maaaring Humarap sa Reklamong Subornation of Perjury Kaugnay ng ‘Flip-Flop’ ni Guteza
Maaaring harapin nina detained Sen. Rodante Marcoleta at ex-Rep. Michael Defensor ang reklamo sa subornation of perjury kaugnay ng “coached” na testimonya ng dating Marine na si Orly Guteza sa pagdinig ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee noong nakaraang taon, ayon kay Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Sabado.
Sinabi ni Lacson na ipinakita ng takbo ng mga pangyayari sa pagdinig ng Blue Ribbon Committee na tinuturuan ni Marcoleta si Guteza kung ano ang sasabihin sa affidavit nito kaugnay ng umano’y paghahatid nito ng pera sa mga maleta sa ilang personalidad, kabilang si dating Speaker Martin Romualdez.
“Kung titingnan natin ang ebidensya, takbo ng pangyayari, nangyari ito noong pagdinig ng BRC na maliwanag kino-coach ni Sen Marcoleta. So isa siya sa pwedeng kasuhan ng subornation of perjury,” ani Lacson sa isang panayam sa DWIZ radio.
“Oo tama yan, kung may mag-file,” dagdag niya nang tanungin kung maaaring managot sina Marcoleta at Defensor matapos sabihin ni Guteza na hinikayat siya ng dalawa na tumestigo kapalit ng pera at scholarship para sa kanyang mga anak.
Sinabi ni Lacson na kabilang sa maaaring magsampa ng reklamo si Romualdez, na idinawit sa unang pahayag ni Guteza.
Dagdag niya, maaari ring magsagawa ang Department of Justice at Office of the Ombudsman ng preliminary investigation kaugnay ng posibleng kasong perjury laban sa mga nasa likod ng unang testimonya ni Guteza dahil tinuturing na public crime ang perjury.
“Pwede silang mag-initiate ng pagsagawa ng preliminary investigation sa kasong perjury laban sa mga tao sa likod,” aniya.
Muling iginiit ni Lacson ang kanyang panawagan para sa mas mabigat na parusa laban sa mga humihikayat o namimilit sa ibang tao na gumawa ng perjury, upang magsilbing masakit na leksyon sa mga gumagawa nito at mapigilan ang tinawag niyang negosyo sa laban-bawi na pahayag.
Noong Biyernes, sinabi niyang balak niyang maghain ng panukalang batas na magpapataw ng mas mabigat na parusa at multa para sa subornation of perjury.
“Dapat talaga magkaroon ng leksyon ang mga nagsasagawa niyan kasi may batas tayong sumasaklaw diyan (pero) walang natutuluyang kasuhan,” aniya.
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