By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
MANILA — Marikina City (1st District ) Rep. Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro on Monday (Oct. 13) filed perjury complaints before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Manila against two female members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) who had earlier baselessly accused him.
“Congressman Marcy Teodoro filed today complaints for perjury against his accusers, two (2) policewomen, who had earlier falsely claimed he had committed various acts of sexual abuse against them,” Atty. Alma Mallonga of Siguion Reyna Montecillo & Ongsiako, counsel for Rep. Marcy, said in a statement.
The lawyer said that complaints lodged against Teodoro are clearly fabricated, saying the complainants “admit they have no evidence.”
“At the same time, many witnesses have testified Cong. Marcy was never alone with the complainants, and there was no opportunity for him to have committed the crimes they impute,” she stressed.
This means they perjured themselves.
Under Republic Act (RA) No. 11594, perjury is now punishable by a penalty of prision mayor in its minimum period (six years and one day to eight years) to its medium period (eight years and one day to 10 years). If the offender is a public officer or employee, the penalty shall be imposed in its maximum period, or 10 years and one day to 12 years.
In addition, the person found guilty of perjury may be made liable to pay a fine of up to P1 million and may be perpetually disqualified from holding any appointive or elective position in government or in any of its agencies, entities, or instrumentalities.
According to Mallonga, “complainants” themselves did not report the supposed assault and still went to work after the alleged incident with Teodoro.
“They continued to report for work, happily interacting with their co-workers, even on the very same days they claim to have been abused,” she noted.
Teodoro’s lawyer underscored that there was no rape, stressing the complaints were “clearly filed only to smear the reputation of Cong. Marcy.”
“As complainants themselves admit, no force or intimidation was employed upon them. They were not threatened, they were not harmed. Cong. Marcy had no weapons,” she pointed out.
“But the complainants always carried a service gun, tucked inside their pants. The claim of rape is baffling and incredible under these circumstances. The complaints should be dismissed.”
Mallonga said that Teodoro will “vigorously defend” himself against unsubstantiated and made-up accusations.
“In the end, he is confident that the truth will prevail. But, as duty demands, he will pursue the perjury charges against the women,” the lawyer said.
“False claims of rape harm everyone, especially women who are true victims of the crime.”
For his part, Teodooro said that he is confident that the baseless charges against him will be dismissed, but insisted that those who lied under oath will penalized.
“Matatag ang loob kong makakamit ko ang hustisya at mababasura ang mga imbentong reklamong ito. Pero kailangan managot ang mga nagsisinungalin,” he stated.
“The justice system should never be used as a weapon by those with malicious intent to destroy the innocent,” he added.
Convinced that the accusations were politically driven, the lawmaker appealed for an end to the practice of dirty politics.
“Tigilan na ang maduming politika. It’s heartbreaking that we’ve come to a point where ambition prevails over truth and decency, where some people no longer fear God, only losing power,” he said. ###
