Lawyers Ruy Rondain and Orlando Mendiola are ready to defend themselves from allegations that they were part of a supposed plot to frame Executive Secretary Ralph Recto with false affidavits from women, saying there was no such scheme and they had no reason to participate in one.
Speaking on Bilyonaryo News Channel’s “On Point,” the lawyers said they were only requested by former lawmaker Jacinto “Jing” Paras to assess if the statements of the women were believable.
Mendiola said he found them believable because he did not hear contrary information.
The lawyers disputed the allegation of a talent manager, Alias Ken, that they were helping the women draft false affidavits about Recto.
Rondain said the firm is not involved in political plots.
“We don’t play Game of Thrones like Ken is making it appear. We don’t care,” he said.
He said they only met with Ken and the women because they were requested by Paras, who was his law school classmate.
“And we don’t judge people for what they do. The true character of the persons didn’t come until much later, much to our regret. Otherwise, we don’t deal with this kind of people,” he said.
He also said he and Mendiola have nothing to gain from participating in the alleged scheme.
“Who do you believe? We have nothing to gain from this, we didn’t get paid, we have no skin in this political game, we don’t play that game, and you have someone who gets caught red-handed for a non-bailable offense. Who will say anything to save his skin? Who do you want to believe?” he said.
As for possible charges against them, they said they committed no offense.
Rondain said there is no such crime of encouraging false accusations. There was also no perjury since no affidavit was signed.
Mendiola said that while a complaint for violation of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability may be filed, this is not a criminal charge.
“We’ll just have to defend ourselves,” he said. “We didn’t do anything wrong.”