He told a news conference that Perez and banker Ernest Escaler came back to Manila from Hong Kong on the same flight on Feb. 25, 2001 indicating that the two were together in the former British colony.
The whistle-blower in the extortion case furnished reporters photocopies of what he said was a Cathay Pacific passenger manifest for Flight CX919 on Feb. 25.
The document shows that Perez occupied economy class seat 30 K, while Escaler was in first class, in seat 19 C.
Villarama also released copies of a manifest for Flight CX904 for Hong Kong on Feb. 22, 2001 that includes the name of Perez. Escaler, however, was not in the list.
Manila Rep. Mark "MJ" Jimenez, who has accused the justice secretary-on leave of allegedly extorting $2 million from him, has claimed that Perez and Escaler were together in Hong Kong on Feb. 23, 2001, the day he wired the money to the former British colony.
He said Escaler "fronted" for the justice secretary in the alleged extortion.
He said the banker even called him from Hong Kong and told him he was with Perez.
Perez initially denied he was with his supposed front man but later admitted that he chanced upon him at the airport.
The justice secretary has denied the extortion charge, while Escaler has claimed that he has handled no money for Perez.
In the same news conference, Villarama accused the justice secretary of "bullying me (by filing libel cases) to force me to shut up."