Senate readies perjury raps vs Bangayan

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate is now preparing perjury charges and the petition to cancel the passport of Davidson Bangayan alias David Tan, after he was found to be lying about his true identity during the Senate inquiry into rice smuggling.

More than five senators have also signed the authorization prepared by the Senate committee on agriculture and food that allows Horace Cruda, the committee secretary, to file the perjury charges in behalf of the Senate.

Committee chairman Sen. Cynthia Villar said the Senate hopes to file the perjury charges against Bangayan/Tan within the week.

She also defended the committee’s decision not to detain Bangayan at the Senate.

“We are filing perjury. We detain persons because they fail to attend the hearings or they ignore the Senate... usually, we warn them that if they will not attend, then we will arrest them,” Villar said in Filipino.

In Bangayan’s case, Villar said he has been attending the Senate inquiry.

Villar contradicted Senate minority leader Juan Ponce Enrile’s statement that Bangayan should have been detained because he lied while under oath during the Senate probe.

“That’s what they say, but the lawyers also pointed out that we encountered problems in the past when people were detained for several months and we can’t find any reason on how to let them go,” Villar said.

Villar believes perjury and the cancellation of passport are more harsh punishments than detention. 

“Besides, he has been arrested right?” she added.

Villar reiterated the Department of Justice (DOJ) should initiate the filing of charges against suspected rice smugglers since these illegal activities greatly affect the economy.

“That is why we are conducting the hearing in front of the DOJ, so they will know what’s happening so they can build up the case and file as soon as possible,” she said.

The Senate held Bangayan in contempt during the hearing last Monday following the manifestation of Enrile, seconded by Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito.  

Enrile wanted Bangayan punished after he repeatedly denied that he is also David Tan despite documentary evidence presented to the committee about his identity.