Senator Francis Pangillinan. (Photo by RICHARD A. REYES/Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Friday dismissed as “false and pure nonsense” allegations that the Liberal Party (LP) was involved in a P100-million bribe try to high profile inmates to recant their testimonies against a party member, Senator Leila de Lima.
“The allegations are ridiculous and meant to divert the attention to the erroneous and unlawful filing of charges against Senator de Lima,” Pangilinan, president of LP, said in a text message.
READ: Aguirre links LP members to alleged P100M bribe try
Pangilinan also pointed out that Laguna Representative Marlyn “Len” Alonte-Naguiat, who was reportedly one of those who made the bribe offer, belongs to the ruling PDP-Laban of President Rodrigo Duterte, and not part of LP.
Aside from Alonte-Naguiat, former Senator Jamby Madrigal was also tagged in the bribe try.
READ: Laguna solon denies links to bribe try, says accusation ‘unfair’
But Pangilinan said he had not spoken to the former senator for over three years now.
“The information is false and pure nonsense,” he said.
In a separate text to reporters, Pangilinan called the reported LP involvement in the alleged bribe try as a “garbage” and “foolishness.”
“Kalokohan ‘yang LP bribery attempt,” he said, “Basura ang information na ‘yan (The accusation that the LP is involved in a bribery attempt is just foolishness. That information is garbage).” IDL/rga