Lacson Denies Filing Perjury Case Against Lascañas

Senator-Judge Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday clarified that he did not file any perjury case against former Davao senior police officer Arturo Lascañas, a self-confessed member of the Davao Death Squad (DDS). Lacson made the manifestation on the ninth day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, when defense counsel Mark Vinluan showed a 2017 news article during the cross-examination of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag, which read that a Senate panel recommended filing of a perjury case against Lascañas. "Indeed, I will confirm that Arturo Lascañas retracted and changed his testimony. After several hearings, nag-retract siya. But hindi po ako nag-file ng perjury. Gusto ko lang i-correct ‘yun,” Lacson said. (Indeed, I will confirm that Arturo Lascañas retracted and changed his testimony. After several hearings, he retracted. But I did not file a perjury. I just want to correct this.) He explained that he only recommended in the committee report that the Revised Penal Code be amended, specifically the section on the crime of perjury. Lacson previously chaired the Senate public order committee which investigated the drug-related deaths and alleged extrajudicial killings during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte. During the trial on Tuesday, Matibag said the NBI looked into an affidavit of Lascañas submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC), which mentioned Duterte's supposed hand in Oplan Tokhang. The NBI chief said the NBI Special Task Force evaluated the document as part of its investigation on the alleged "pattern of violence" by Duterte in relation to her alleged threats against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez. — RSJ, GMA News