Topacio files perjury complaint vs Koko Pimentel

Ferdinand Topacio. Photo by Faye Orellana/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio on Monday filed a perjury complaint against re-electionist Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel before the prosecutor’s office of Manila City Hall for making false statements while under oath.

The perjury complaint filed by Topacio stemmed from the electoral sabotage that Pimentel filed against now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, her husband Mike Arroyo, and others back in 2011.

READ: Sen. Pimentel files election fraud raps vs Arroyo couple et al.

The Pasay City Regional Trial Court however ruled in December 2018 that Arroyo was cleared from electoral sabotage, granting her demurrer to evidence.

With this, Topacio said that the statements made by Pimentel while under oath were false and are grounds for perjury.

READ: Court clears Arroyo of poll sabotage

He also noted that he filed the complaint not on behalf of the former president but on his own decision.

“Bilang isang mamamayan, ako na po kasi, ako po ang nakaka-alam eh. Mula’t sapul po ako ang naghandle ng kasong ito,” Topacio, who was the lawyer of the Arroyos during the case, said in an interview.

When pressed on the timing of the filing of the perjury complaint, Topacio said that it took their camp to file the complaint against Pimentel only this year, given that they still had to gather the supporting documents.

“Ang nangyare po kasi dito sinumpaan sa Maynila, ginamit sa [Department of Justice], yung kaso finile sa Pasay. So marami po kaming pinuntahan na tanggapan para kunin yung dokumento,” Topacio said.

Pimentel is currently seeking re-election for senator under the banner of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan party. /je