A former Liberal Party (LP) representative denied the allegation of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II that she tried to bribe high-profile Bilibid inmates to recant their testimony against Senator Leila de Lima.
In a radio interview with DZMM, Biñan city Rep. Marlyn Naguiat-Alonte said she does not know any of the inmates and that she did not call any of them to bribe them.
READ: Witnesses vs De Lima offered P100M to recant testimonies–Aguirre
“Wala akong kakilala sa kahit sinong inmates na sinasabi nila. Ikalawa ho di ako tumawag at di ako nakisali sa ganyang gawin. So di ko po alam kung pano po nila nakuha yung ganyang issue,” Alonte-Naguiat said.
(I don’t know any of the inmates they mentioned. Secondly, I did not call or join in any of their activities. So I don’t know how they were able to bring up that issue.)
Alonte-Naguiat said she knows former senator Jamby Madrigal but she does not know her personally.
Aguirre also named Madrigal as the former LP senator who bribed the inmates.
READ: Jamby Madrigal: Aguirre owes me an apology for another ‘bum steer’
Alonte-Naguiat said she is willing to face Aguirre to prove that she did not bribe the inmates.
“Taas noo ko pong haharapin. Ako po ay nagulat sa naging issue ngayon kung bakit ako naging sangkot,” Alonte-Naguiat said.
(I will face him with my head held high. I was surprised that I was involved in this issue now.)
She said she has since jumped ship to the ruling political party the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan and would not do anything to smear the party’s name.
“Ako po ay under sa leadership ni President Dutete. Ako po ay tumatayo bilang isang PDP-Laban member. Di ko po sisirain ang pangalan ng partido,” Alonte-Naguiat said.
(I am under the leadership of President Duterte. I stand as a PDP-Laban member. I will not smear the name of the party.)
She lamented that Aguirre’s allegation tainted her reputation which she had taken care of for her constituents.
“Nasisira po ang aking pangalan at nasisira ang panglaan ng aking bayan na aking nirerepresenta. Sana po tinignan muna nila,” Alonte-Naguiat said.
(My name and that of my constituency are being tainted. They should have verified first.)
Aguirre has alleged that Alonte-Naguiat and Madrigal offered a P100-million bribe to high-profile inmates to recant their testimony against Senator Leila de Lima, in a bid to launch another People Power revolt and make De Lima a victim of political persecution.
De Lima has since surrendered after an arrest warrant was issued against her on drug-related charges before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court. CDG/rga
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