Former chiefs of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) attended on Monday the third hearing of the so-called "PDEA Leaks" in the Senate to question the credibility of former agent Jonathan Morales.
NO CREDIBILITY. Former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director General Dionisio Santiago attends the third hearing on the so-called “PDEA Leaks” at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City on Monday (May 13, 2024). He said former PDEA agent Jonathan Morales, who implicated President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in illegal drugs, is being called a “storyteller liar” by his colleagues. PNA
Former PDEA director general Dionisio Santiago, who led the agency from 2006 to 2010, was presented by Senator Jinggoy Estrada as a "surprise witness" before the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs.
Santiago told Morales is now being called "STL" by former colleagues after hearing his testimonies in the Senate.
"Professional storyteller liar (STL). ‘Yun ang sabi sa akin (That's what they told me)," Santiago said.
Arturo Cacdac, the PDEA chief in 2012, denied Morales’ accusations that the leadership had prejudice on him.
Cacdac recalled that under his helm in December 2012, Cacdac admitted planting evidence during an operation against Filipino-Chinese drug suspects.
“Kaya ako po ay namangha. Ang tagal ko po sa serbisyo, ngayon lang ako nakaranas nang ganun (So I was surprised. I've been in the service for a while, that was the first time I experienced something like that),” he said.
Cacdac said Morales shamed the PDEA and National Prosecution Service.
“Dumaan po ‘yan sa preliminary investigation. Pinaniwalaan na po sila kaya umabot sa korte, eh pagkatapos sasabihin niya pinlant lang ‘yung ebidensya (It went through the preliminary investigation. They were found credible so the cases reached the court, only for him to say that the evidence was just planted)," Cacdac said.
Morales confirmed Cacdac’s testimony.
‘Congenital liar’
Earlier, Estrada questioned why the disgraced PDEA agent, whom he branded as a “congenital liar,” is still being allowed to testify in the Senate despite facing various criminal complaints in different local courts, which include planting of evidence, estafa, extortion and giving false testimony.
"Kabilang dito ang paglabag sa Article 180 ng Revised Penal Code, ang batas na nagtatakda ng parusa para sa mga taong nagbibigay ng peke o maling testimonya laban sa isang akusado at kasalukuyan itong naka-pending sa Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 4 sa (This includes violation of Article 180 of the Revised Penal Code, the law that sets the penalty for people who give fake or false testimony against an accused, and it is currently pending in the Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 4 in) San Fernando, Pampanga)," he said.
Estrada also reminded the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs that legislative processes should always “uphold truth, integrity and fairness,” as he questioned why disgraced Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agent Jonathan Morales is still allowed to testify in the Senate.
"I call upon the Senate Public Order Committee to uphold its duty to the Filipino people by exercising due diligence in verifying the veracity of information presented before it and by refraining from legitimizing falsehoods and fabricated stories," he said in his opening statement at the hearing.
"Allowing the dissemination of false information and fabricated narratives not only undermines the credibility of our institutions but also jeopardizes the pursuit of genuine justice and accountability," he said.
Estrada said senators have "a deep responsibility to ensure the truth in the statements of individuals who stand as witnesses or our resource persons," emphasizing that this is not just a duty as legislators, but "a moral obligation."
"There is no room in our hearings for those who spread lies or make perjury statements, especially since they swore to tell the truth only," he said.
In response, Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, the panel chair, assured that the committee will not "go overboard" in the "PDEA Leaks" hearing but clarified that the inquiry only seeks to "hear everyone" without any hidden agenda.
He said while he believed in some of Morales’ testimonies, there were times when he doubted what the disgraced PDEA agent was saying.
"It's up for us to evaluate yung mga sinasabi nila kung totoo ba yan o hindi (if what the witnesses said are true or not),” he said.
He said his committee will stay “objective and neutral.”
Morales previously provided testimony on the purported authenticity of leaked 2012 documents implicating then-senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and actress Maricel Soriano to illegal drug use.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri had reminded his colleagues to be careful in the conduct of public inquiries, which he said should not be used for political persecution.
Never appeared in PDEA system
At the same hearing, PDEA Legal and Prosecution Service Acting Director Francis Del Valle clarified before the Senate panel that the name of the President was never included in any of their records.
Del Valle said "Bongbong Marcos alias Bonget," allegedly the subject of a 2012 pre-operation report and authority to operate that circulated on social media, never appeared in their National Drug Information System or the Inter-agency Drug Information database.
"Hence, he has never been included in the drug list or has been subject to any negation operation," Del Valle said in a presentation during the third hearing on the so-called “PDEA Leaks.”
Dela Rosa, who chairs the panel, admitted that he did not see any copy of the viral documents during his time as chief of the Philippine National Police.
"Kasi ako kung tanungin mo rin ako, nag-chief PNP ako, wala talaga akong nakita about that information. Ako mismo, honestly speaking, wala akong nakita (Because if you ask me, I was a PNP chief, I never saw that information. I myself, honestly speaking, I never saw any)," dela Rosa said.
Del Valle reiterated the PDEA's stand that the supposedly “leaked” documents were "purely fabricated," considering that they have no control numbers and are marred with redactions. PNA
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