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Monday, August 21, 2006
Legislator offers to take lie test
By Rianne C. Tecson
CEBU CITY -- To disprove a lawyer's allegation that he handed money to suspected shabu lab operator Hung Chin Chang last month, Rep. Antonio Cuenco (Cebu City, south district) is willing to undergo a polygraph test.
And he expects four other persons, including defense lawyer Gloria Lastimosa-Dalawampu, to do the same, so the public will know who between him and the lawyer is lying.
"It's a serious charge she is leveling against me. We should find out who's telling the truth. I'm challenging her to a lie detector test tomorrow (Monday) at the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) 7," Cuenco told Sun.Star in a phone interview.
Aside from Dalawampu, Cuenco said those who should take the polygraph test are Dalawampu's aide Derly Tagais, Hung and his lawyer Danilo Yap.
Cuenco's challenge came after Dalawampu accused him of handing money to Hung inside the Mandaue City Regional Trial Court, where the drug manufacturing case against Hung and 10 others are pending.
"I will not leave for Manila until that lie detector test is conducted. I will even let her (Dalawampu) choose which agent should conduct the test," Cuenco said.
Disbar
He added that whoever is proven lying after the polygraph test should be disbarred.
"I don't want to quarrel with a woman. I can choose to file cases against her but a lie detector test is better because the results are immediately available. If she refuses, then she's hoisting a monumental lie (against me)," Cuenco said.
But Dalawampu, in a separate interview, merely laughed off Cuenco's dare.
"Ay na lang. Ipatan-aw ra unya niya (Cuenco) akong mata og maka-klaro pa ba ug dili (Never mind. He might as well have my eyesight checked)," Dalawampu said.
A polygraph test, commonly known as lie detector test, involves the use of an electrical device (polygraph) that records a person's involuntary responses, like pulse rate, heartbeat, brain activity and perspiration while answering questions.
Results of the polygraph test are not admissible as evidence, although investigators consider these as reliable in conducting investigations.
'Not a fool'
Cuenco said admitted he was present during the July 21 hearing when the alleged handing of money to Hung took place.
"I was there because I have been monitoring the case. Every time there's a hearing, I try my best to be there to show how serious I am in pursuing these drug-related cases," Cuenco added.
The legislator also said that after stepping down from the witness stand, Hung approached him, shook his hands and left.
"Why would I do it there? Why would I make an ass out of myself? A fool out of myself?" Cuenco said.
Dalawampu, however, said the story doesn't end there.
The lady lawyer said that after shaking hands with Hung, Cuenco pulled out his wallet and got a wad of P1,000 bills.
Aside from her, Dalawampu said her aide Tagais saw the act.
Distasteful
"Klaro kaayo nga iyang gitunol. Nisurok akong dugo. It was so distasteful for a congressman (to hand money to an accused) when he has just filed a bill seeking the increase of penalty for bribery," Dalawampu told Sun.Star Cebu.
Dalawampu said Tagais was standing beside Cuenco while she was about two to three meters away.
"Kana si congressman (Cuenco), di na lang unta na siya magsalig sa iyang memory...Di na lang unta siya mag-ingon ana kay ika-pila na raba na siya motuis og storya. I have no reason to lie. Why will be imputing him with such allegation if it were not true?" she said.
Dalawampu believes it is Cuenco who needs to do a lot of explaining.
"He has so much at stake; it is his honor and reputation at stake. He is using Hung. Siya ang nagpunit ni Hung sa Hong Kong. Nganong di na man lang siya magpulis o mag-prosecutor?" Dalawampu said.
In exposing Cuenco's alleged "bribery" of Hung, Dalawampu said she is merely doing her job as the lawyer of one of the accused, suspected shabu lab mastermind Calvin Tan.
"The duty of the lawyer is not only confined to proceedings in court," she added.
Other reasons
But Cuenco believes Dalawampu has an axe to grind against him.
He said Dalawampu is so desperate in handling Tan's case that she has resorted to squid tactics.
"She is hurling such accusation against me to divert the public's attention," Cuenco said.
Cuenco also said Dalawampu may have disliked the idea of him asking the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu City chapter lawyers to help the government in prosecuting drug cases. (Sun.Star Cebu)
(August 21, 2006 issue)
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