MANILA, Philippines — Detained Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and former representative Mike Defensor could face a complaint for subornation of perjury over the alleged "coached" testimony of former Marine Orly Guteza before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson said.
Lacson said the sequence of events during the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing showed that Marcoleta had prompted Guteza on what to include in his affidavit regarding his allegations that he delivered cash in suitcases to several officials, including former speaker Martin Romualdez.
"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 a radio interview on Saturday.
Lacson said Romualdez, who was implicated in Guteza’s original allegations, could initiate a complaint against Marcoleta and Defensor.
He said the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of the Ombudsman could conduct a preliminary investigation into possible perjury charges involving those behind Guteza’s testimony, noting that perjury is considered a public offense.
"The Office of the Ombudsman and the DOJ can initiate a preliminary investigation for perjury against those involved, including those behind them," he said.
