World · Philippines Bureau
Officials who induce perjury may face disqualification: Lacson
Sen. Panfilo Lacson has suggested that public officials who induce others to commit perjury could be treated as principals in the crime and face removal from office. The proposal comes as detained lawmakers face potential charges.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Public officials who induce another person to commit perjury may be held criminally liable as principals and potentially barred from holding public office, according to Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson.
Lacson raised the possibility of imposing such penalties on Saturday while discussing cases involving detained Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and former Rep. Michael Defensor. The senator suggested that those who encourage false testimony could face consequences extending beyond standard perjury charges.
Under Philippine law, principals in a crime can face the same penalties as the direct perpetrator. Lacson's comments suggest that inducing perjury—compelling or encouraging someone to provide false sworn statements—should be treated with equal severity to actually committing perjury.
The disqualification from public office would represent an additional consequence beyond criminal conviction and imprisonment. Such a penalty would effectively end the political careers of convicted officials.
The cases of Marcoleta and Defensor remain under investigation, with authorities examining whether the lawmakers may have induced others to provide false testimony in various proceedings.