QuadComm eyes bill penalizing lawyers of witnesses who recant

Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers, lead chair of the House Quad Committee (QuadComm), on Thursday said they are mulling filing of a bill to penalize lawyers who assist witnesses that later recant their testimonies.

"We anticipated 'yung recantations kasi nangyayari na 'yan… kasi madalas nang nangyayari at nagiging kultura na," Barbers said.

(We anticipated recantations because they happen... they happen so often that they become culture.)

Barbers explained that when an individual executes a sworn affidavit, the individual is assisted by a lawyer.

"Siya ay susumpa sa lawyer na lahat ng kanyang isinulat at sinabi ay mga pawang katotohanan lamang. And because of this, there's a semblance of perhaps liability also na tinitingnan namin na maaaring gawing panukalang batas na dapat meron ding criminal liability 'yung mga nag-assist na mga lawyer kasi sinumpaan sa kanila na totoo 'yan at later on magre-recant sila," he said.

(The witness will swear before a lawyer that the contents of his affidavit are true. And because of this, there's a semblance of perhaps liability on the part of the lawyer who assisted the witness. We are considering filing a bill that will put criminal liability on the lawyer.)

"Kasi dapat pinu-prove nila 'yan. Pag nagbigay ng sinumpaan salaysay, tinatanong 'yan ng mga abogado," Barbers added.

(Because the lawyer should check the veracity of the sworn statement.)

Barbers said one proposal may be to amend the law on perjury.

QuadComm co-chair and Laguna Representative Dan Fernandez agreed with Barbers.

"Ngayon siguro kung may matibay na batas 'yan, hindi mangyayari 'yon, 'yung pabago-bago sila tapos mabigat ang penalty, mahihirapan sila. Kaya I think high time na talagang busisiin na natin ang batas na gagawin natin diyan," Fernandez said.

(If there is a law regarding that, recantations will not happen. That's why I think it's high time to look into the law regarding that.) —KBK, GMA Integrated News