Enrile wants 'David Tan' held in contempt for lying

MANILA, Philippines - Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile said Monday that businessman Davidson Bangayan should be cited for contempt after once again denying that he was alleged rice smuggling king "David Tan."

Enrile moved to hold Bangayan in contempt for lying to the Senate Committe on Agriculture and Food, which resumed its investigation on rice smuggling.

"Alam mo naawa ako sayo. Binibigyan kita ng pagkakataon. Hindi lang ito ang ebidensya na ikaw si David Tan," Enrile told Bangayan during the televised hearing on Monday morning.

Enrile made his motion after showing an affidavit executed by Bangayan in a 2005 libel case in which the businessman supposedly referred to himself as "David Tan," the country's alleged rice smuggling king.

But Bangayan once again denied this allegation, saying he only signed the affidavit as "Davidson Bangayan" and not "also known as David Tan."

"That is based on the complaint on the newspaper. Maybe my lawyer did not, at that time, correct it," Bangayan said.

Bangayan's denial irked Enrile, who said that there are other evidences that would prove that Bangayan and Tan are the same person.

"Kung ayaw mo [umamin], magpapadala kami ng sangkatutak na ebidensya na ikaw si David Tan," Enrile told Bangayan. "Ikaw lang iyon, walang iba."

Senator Cynthia Villar, agriculture committee chair, said they will decide on Enrile's motion in the next hearing after consulting with the other members of the Senate panel.

The Senate hearing is still ongoing as of writing time and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is expected to also testify and disclose his knowledge on rice smuggling.