SEN. Panfilo Lacson is calling for stiffer penalties against persons who force others to commit perjury, citing the recent recantations of Orly Guteza and three of the so-called Maleta Boys over their allegations of delivering cash in suitcases to certain personalities.
Lacson also called for stricter enforcement of the Anti-Perjury Law, warning that fabricated testimonies and subsequent recantations have become a “lucrative business,” particularly when used against political figures.
“Orly Guteza’s recantation should not end there,” Lacson said in a post on X, noting that Republic Act (RA) 11594 raised the penalty for perjury to prision mayor and made a person who forces another to commit perjury liable as a principal by inducement.
“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 said.
Lacson said the person directly offended or prejudiced by the false testimony could file a complaint against those who induced another to commit perjury.
“In Guteza’s case — ex-speaker [Martin] Romualdez. If not him for some reason, any public officer charged with enforcing the law,” he said.
Lacson said Guteza’s recantation was not surprising, since he had observed Sen. Rodante Marcoleta “coaching” Guteza during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing last year.
Guteza has since claimed that Marcoleta and former representative Michael Defensor had prodded him to testify in exchange for money and scholarships for his children. Marcoleta and Defensor have faced allegations over the testimony but have denied them.
