Senate files perjury raps vs Bangayan

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate charged yesterday Davidson Bangayan with perjury before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for denying under oath that he is David Tan during a Senate committee inquiry on rice smuggling.

In a complaint filed through lawyer Horace Cruda, the committee on agriculture and food sought the indictment of Bangayan for violation of Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code on providing false testimony and perjury.

Article 183 penalizes an individual for “knowingly making untruthful statements... under oath, or (making) an affidavit, upon any material matter before a competent person authorized to administer an oath in cases in which the law so requires.”

Signing the complaint were 11 senators led by committee on agriculture and food chairman Cynthia Villar.

Senate President Franklin Drilon endorsed the complaint.

Documents submitted to the DOJ showed that in a libel case he filed in 2005 against Jesus Arranza, Federation of Philippine Industries chairman, Bangayan identified himself as “alias David Tan.” 

Last Monday, the Senate cited Bangayan  for contempt for repeatedly denying being David Tan during a hearing despite court records showing otherwise.

After the hearing, the NBI arrested Bangayan for   violation of Republic Act 7832, the Anti-Electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act, on the strength of a warrant from the Caloocan City Regional Trial Court.

Bangayan posted bail at the Manila Regional Trial Court after being booked at the NBI headquarters in Manila.

Police alerted on smuggled rice

In Zamboanga City, police have been alerted on the arrival of smuggled rice.

Zamboanga Peninsula police director Chief Superintendent Juanito Vaño said they have seized a big volume of suspected smuggled rice in Zamboanga-Sibugay.

However, due to some technicality, these were released, he added.

Police seized tons of smuggled rice being unloaded in a private wharf, and the shippers were made to pay the correct taxes to the Bureau of Customs, Vaño said.

The Naval Forces Western Mindanao is tracking down rice smugglers in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. 

Smuggled rice from Malaysia is being dumped in Zamboanga City, using Tawi-Tawi and Sulu as transshipment points, police and military intelligence officials said. – Edu Punay, Roel Pareño