A double whammy may await former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials if they recant their sworn statements related to the corruption behind anomalous flood control projects, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson said.
Lacson, who set the next hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on the matter on Jan. 19, said they will not only face sanctions for perjury, but their recantation will fail to weaken the cases being built against those involved.
“If they recant, they may be liable for violating the law on perjury, Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code as amended by RA 11594, which raises the penalty for perjury to up to 12 years. This is aside from a penalty of P1 million and perpetual absolute disqualification if the offender is a government official,” the veteran legislator said in an interview on DZBB radio, amid reports indicating the officials may recant.
Yet, the seasoned lawmaker said that even if the DPWH officials involved recant their statements, this may not sway the investigation into the flood control scandal as circumstantial or documentary evidence such as items in the budget books linking personalities – including lawmakers – to the mess had been barred in previous Blue Ribbon hearings.
The senator added the Department of Justice is investigating the case while the Anti-Money Laundering Council has initiated the freezing of accounts of some of those involved.
“The case won’t die or collapse on the basis of their recantation.”
“Their statements are not standalone evidence. The case won’t die or collapse on the basis of their recantation,” he said.
Lacson added that former DPWH Bulacan engineers Henry Alcantara and Brice Hernandez had already turned over money and vehicles to the government, an indication that they admitted wrongdoing.
Also, he said he is not discounting the possibility that some of those implicated may have reached out to the ex-DPWH officials.
“I won’t wonder if some of those implicated may have reached out to the ex-DPWH officials through their lawyers,” Lacson said.
Next Blue Ribbon Hearing
Lacson said he has set the next hearing of the Blue Ribbon Committee on the flood control project mess for Jan. 19, at 1 p.m.
He said the committee will subpoena personalities it already invited before but did not show up. These include ex-DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, ex-Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar, and Meynard Ngu – as well as ex-Rep. Elizaldy Co.
If those who are subpoenaed still fail to attend, Lacson will recommend to the Senate President the issuance of warrants for their arrest.
“We already subpoenaed them. If they still won’t show up, we can issue warrants for their arrest.”
“Olaivar and company were invited but did not show up. We already subpoenaed them. If they still won’t show up, we can issue warrants for their arrest,” he said.
Lacson said he wants to clarify with the Budget Department and Office of the Executive Secretary how a Special Allotment Release Order that allowed the release of P50 billion from the unprogrammed appropriations in the budget was released on Dec. 27, 2024.
Also, Lacson said the committee may invite Representative Leandro Leviste, coursed through the House leadership, if the Batangas lawmaker agrees.
He said there are similarities between the documents Leviste has made public, and those that he has – although Lacson said he has yet to see the “SAP” and “OP” Leviste referred to.
When asked if the “Cabral files” would be enough basis to file cases against Cabinet members, he said the documents must be authenticated by the DPWH first.
Bid to Discredit Blue Ribbon Committee
Meanwhile, Lacson scored the baseless criticisms by Senator Imee Marcos of the Blue Ribbon Committee even if she never attended a hearing he chaired.
He debunked her claims that he banned members from linking personalities such as former Speaker Martin Romualdez to the issue, noting that in the first place, she never attended hearings that he chaired.
Also, Lacson addressed Marcos’ claims of him “limiting” senators to 10 minutes in asking questions, saying this was needed so each senator can have his/her turn to ask questions.
“In the first place, what pressure is she talking about when she never attended any of the hearings I chaired?” he said.
“I have said before that the best response to nonsense is silence. But when she starts insulting, I cannot disregard it anymore. By insulting the Blue Ribbon Committee, she is undermining its integrity. Why does she not attend and ask questions?” Lacson added.
Lacson said he remains puzzled over why some senators including Marcos and Senator Rodante Marcoleta seem intent on disrupting the Blue Ribbon hearings, with Marcoleta earlier questioning Lacson’s objectivity.
“The problem is that there are those who want to disrupt the investigation. I don’t know what their end game is,” he concluded.
