Padilla wants stiffer penalties vs. law enforcers lying to Senate

Law enforcers found lying to the Senate should face jail time, suspension and civil penalties, Senator Robin Padilla said Friday.

The lawmaker issued the remark after saying that the detention of seven cops—who were linked in the controversial P6.7-billion shabu haul in Manila last year—inside the Senate building is like living in a hotel.

“Di naman totoong kulungan 'yan, parang hotel lang 'yan…Sinasabi ko kay [Senate president] kailangan meron na tayong matibay na hawak-hawak na sinasabi ng batas kung papaano parurusahan ang mga sinungaling na ito,” Padilla said.

Padilla expressed dissatisfaction with the 2021 law which increases the penalty for perjury.

“Kailangan magkaroon ng batas na sinasabi na hindi sila pwede ditong magsinungaling… Kaming mga senador ay elected officials…tapos itong isang taong ito gagawin lang tayong gago, pagiikut-ikutin tayo? Di pwede,” he continued.

“Dapat may pagkakakulong talaga. Pangalawa, pag napatunayan nagsinungaling … halimbawa nagsinungaling siya sa amin, kailangan suspindihin agad ‘yan sa serbisyo…at sisingilin 'yan kung anong ginastos ng taumbayan sa kanya kailangan bayaran niya. Di lang criminal case kailangan may civil case din yan. Di natin pwedeng pagaanin ang parusa sa mga taong nagbigay ng oath,” he said.

On Tuesday the Senate public order and dangerous drugs committee cited in contempt Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr., his superior Lieutenant Colonel Arnulfo Ibañez, and five more policemen for failing to disclose vital information to the panel in relation to the controversial multi-billion shabu haul in 2022.

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who presided over the hearing, got down on his knees to plead with his former colleagues in the Philippine National Police to tell the truth about the controversy.

Mayo, who served as an intelligence officer for the PNP Drug Enforcement Group, was nabbed after authorities confiscated some 990 kilograms of suspected shabu with an estimated value of over P6.7 billion in a series of anti-drug operations in Manila.

Police officers have been accused of pilfering around 42 kilos of shabu from the illegal drugs seized from Mayo.

Criminal and administrative charges were recommended against 49 PNP officials and personnel. — BM, GMA Integrated News