Sen. Panfilo Lacson said former security aide Orly Guteza should face legal consequences after he recanted claims made before the Senate that he delivered suitcases of cash to the homes of ex-lawmaker Elzaldy Co and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Lacson called for the stricter enforcement of the law against perjury to put a stop to the “lucrative business” of testimonies and recantations, especially those used to target political personalities.
“While figuratively, testimonies and recantations are ‘one dime a dozen’ these days, ironically, they have become a lucrative business especially when targeting politicians,” he said in a statement.
He also said there should be heavier penalties for those who commit subornation of perjury or induce others to lie under oath.
He made the statement after Guteza executed a new affidavit saying he was only tapped to make the allegations against Co and Romualdez before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and former lawmaker Mike Defensor.
Guteza said he was not involved in the cash deliveries.
“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,’” Lacson said in a post on X.
Responding to a question from political commentator Jesus Falcis, Lacson said Romualdez or any public officer charged with enforcing the law may file a case against Guteza.
He also said an individual who induces another to commit perjury is also liable for being a principal by inducement.
He said he would file a bill that would impose harsher penalties for subornation of perjury.
Lacson also noted that Republic Act 11594 has not been implemented strictly after being passed as a result of the 2021 Senate hearing on extrajudicial killings in the drug war.
Under this law, 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 jail term shall be imposed in its maximum, along with perpetual absolute disqualification from holding any appointive or elective position in government.