Laguna Rep. Len Alonte denies offering P100-M bribe to inmates

Biñan, Laguna Rep. Marlyn “Len” Alonte on Friday denied that she offered P100-million bribe to high-profile inmates in a bid to have them retract their testimonies against Sen. Leila de Lima.

In a radio interview, Alonte said she was “surprised” by the allegation. She said she does not know any of the said inmates, who testified before the House justice committee inquiry on the drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison.

“Wala po akong kakilala sa kahit sino sa mga inmates na ‘yan. Hindi po ako tumawag hindi po ako nakisali sa ganoong gawain,” she said.

“Hindi ko po alam kung paano nila nakuha yung ganiyang issue. Ako naman ho ay willing ho na humarap kay Sec. [Vitaliano] Aguirre at kahit po siguro kung sino ‘yung nagsabi sa kaniya ay pwede niyang iharap sa akin at taas-noo ko ho ‘yang haharapin kahit ho umabot ho na magpa-lie detector test ho kami ng nagsabi no’n ay okay lang po sa akin,” she added.

Alonte ran under the Liberal Party during the May 2016 polls, but is now a member of the ruling PDP-Laban. 

She said she does not know former Sen. Jamby Madrigal, who was also tagged by Aguirre in allegedly offering bribe to the inmates. 

Also in the interview, Alonte said she has yet to speak with the House leadership, including Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, and will seek them for “guidance or help.”

“Nasisira po ang aking pangalan at nasisira ang pangalan ng aking bayan na aking nirerepresenta. Sana po bago nakapaglabas ng ganitong statement, sana po tingnan muna nila,” she said.

“Ako po ay under sa leadership ni President [Rodrigo] Duterte. Ako po ay tumatayo bilang isang PDP-Laban member. ‘Di ko ho sisirain ang pangalan ng partido, at lalong ‘di ko ho sisirain ang pangalan ko ho,” she added. — RSJ, GMA News