Politics · Philippines Bureau
Lawmakers urged to pursue masterminds behind false accusations
A Bicol party-list representative has called on fellow lawmakers to target the people orchestrating false allegations against them, as witnesses recant their testimonies in a controversy involving former bodyguards.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon has urged his colleagues who were wrongly accused by former bodyguards of ex-Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co to shift their focus toward identifying those responsible for fabricating the allegations.
Ridon made the call during an online press briefing Friday, following a series of witness recantations in the case. The accusations had centered on claims that several lawmakers received money from Co, allegations that have since been contradicted by those who initially provided testimony.
The development marks a significant turn in the controversy, with multiple witnesses withdrawing their earlier statements. Ridon emphasized that lawmakers should not be distracted by the false allegations and instead pursue those who orchestrated the misinformation campaign.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about credibility and accountability in Philippine politics, particularly regarding party-list representatives and the integrity of witness testimony in high-profile cases.