Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17874499271941787449924718.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Mamamayang Liberal Party-List Rep. Leila de Lima during the impeachment proceedings of Sara Duterte at the House of Representatives of the Philippines on April 14, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila De Lima on Sunday pushed for the criminalization of subordination of perjury, after former Marine Orly Guteza recanted his testimony against then-House member Elizaldy &quot;Zaldy&quot; Co and then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez in relation to the flood control corruption scandal.  </p><p>“Bilang dating justice secretary at ipinakulong noon dahil sa imbentong mga kaso na batay lang sa mga gawa-gawang paratang, malinaw na ang pagsisinungaling sa korte ay pagwasak sa integridad ng ating sistemang pangkatarungan,” said De Lima, who was detained for nearly seven years on drug cases that have since been dismissed.</p><p>(As a former justice secretary who was detained over made-up cases based on fabricated accusations, it is clear that lying before a court is a destruction of our justice system&#x27;s integrity.)</p><p>Several witnesses in De Lima&#x27;s cases recanted their testimonies against her, saying they had been influenced and compelled to give them. The last of the cases was dismissed in 2024, seven years since her arrest during the Duterte administration, of which she had been a vocal critic.</p><p>“This has to end. Those responsible for this travesty of justice should be held accountable,” she said. </p><p>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. </p><p>The Revised Penal Code does not specifically punish subornation — paying, coercing, or making someone give false testimony — of perjury.</p><p>De Lima last year filed House Bill No. 1435, or the “Criminalizing Subornation of Perjury Act,” which seeks higher penalties for public officials and employees who commit subornation of perjury. Among the penalties are a perpetual disqualification from government service.</p><p>The bill is still pending with the justice committee.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>LACSON: CHARGES POSSIBLE</strong></div><p>Sen. Panfilo &quot;Ping&quot; Lacson noted that &quot;a public official who induces another person to commit perjury may be treated as a principal under the conspiracy theory in the commission of the crime and shall also suffer an accessory penalty of perpetual absolute disqualification.&quot; </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/21/lacson-wants-harsher-penalties-for-subornation-of-perjury-after-guteza-recantation-1255"><strong>Lacson wants harsher penalties for subornation of perjury after Guteza recantation</strong></a></div><p>The call comes days after Guteza, who had claimed to have been Co&#x27;s bodyguard and bagman, <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/20/guteza-recants-senate-testimony-says-defensor-and-marcoleta-behind-it-1858">recanted his testimony </a>of supposedly delivering suitcases of cash to Co and Romualdez.  </p><p>Guteza made the allegations during a Blue Ribbon Committee hearing that Lacson presided over on Sept. 25, 2025.</p><p>In a new affidavit dated August 13, Guteza said Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and former congressman Mike Defensor had pressured him into make the allegations. </p><p>Guteza recanted his testimony two weeks after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said during his fifth State of the Nation Address that <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/27/marcos-says-multiple-charges-vs-romualdez-to-be-filed-soon-1621">multiple charges would soon be filed against Romualdez</a>.</p><p>The Office of the Ombudsman meanwhile dismissed Guteza&#x27;s recantation as a “pressure tactic,&quot; and said its investigation would continue, citing<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/20/after-guteza-recants-ombudsman-says-28-others-ready-to-testify-in-romualdez-cases-1024"> 28 witnesses </a>that are already undergoing legal processes and are prepared to provide information on Romualdez&#x27;s alleged involvement.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5qxpTauzkQk?si=Ed9gQCISw0n68-aJ" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p><i>Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila De Lima on Sunday pushed for the criminalization of subordination of perjury, after former Marines Orly Guteza recanted his testimony against then-House member Zaldy Co and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez in relation to the flood control corruption scandal.</i></p>

Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila De Lima on Sunday pushed for the criminalization of subordination of perjury, after former Marines Orly Guteza recanted his testimony against then-House member Zaldy Co and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez in relation to the flood control corruption scandal.

De Lima: Making someone give false testimony should be separate crime

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De Lima: Making someone give false testimony should be separate crime

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 23, 2026 12:38 PM PHT

Read More:

Leila De Lima

recant

subordination of perjury

Orly Guteza

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