Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson stated on Saturday, August 22, that Senator Rodante Marcoleta and former Anakalusugan Party-list Representative Mike Defensor could potentially be charged with subornation of perjury in connection with the alleged “coached” testimony of former Marine Orly Guteza during last year’s Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing.
According to Lacson, the proceedings before the Blue Ribbon Committee indicated that Marcoleta guided Guteza on the contents of his affidavit, which alleged that Guteza delivered cash in suitcases to various individuals, including former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative 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,” Lacson said during a radio interview.
When asked if Marcoleta and Defensor could be held liable following Guteza’s claims that the two lawmakers induced him to testify in exchange for money and educational scholarships for his children, Lacson confirmed the possibility.
”Oo tama yan, kung may mag-file,” he said.
Lacson noted that Romualdez, who was directly named in Guteza’s original statements, could be among those eligible to initiate formal legal action.
He added that public enforcement agencies, such as the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of the Ombudsman, could independently launch a preliminary investigation into perjury charges against the figures behind the testimony, noting that perjury is a public offense.
”Pwede silang mag-initiate ng pagsagawa ng preliminary investigation sa kasong perjury laban sa mga tao sa likod,” he said.
Furthermore, Lacson emphasized his legislative intent to push for stricter penalties against those who induce or force individuals to commit perjury, arguing that higher sanctions would deter such practices.
”Dapat talaga magkaroon ng leksyon ang mga nagsasagawa niyan kasi may batas tayong sumasaklaw diyan (pero) walang natutuluyang kasuhan,” he said.