President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. dismissed the allegations made against him by former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agent Jonathan Morales, whom he branded as a "professional liar."
In a media interview during the distribution of government assistance for El Niño-hit Filipinos in General Santos City, Marcos said he would not give credence to Morales' illegal drug claim against him, as he likened the ex-PDEA agent to a jukebox that will play any song for a fee.
“Mahirap naman bigyan ng importansya ‘yan. This fellow is a professional liar. Parang jukebox. Basta maghulog ka ng pera kahit anong kantang gusto mo, kakantahin niya. Kaya walang saysay (It's hard to give it importance. This fellow is a professional liar, like a jukebox. As long as you pay, he will play whatever song you want. That is why it's pointless),” Marcos said.
He also questioned Morales' record marred by multiple court cases, false testimonies, and complaints for implicating innocent individuals.
Morales was dismissed from PDEA for dishonesty and misconduct and now faces several legal proceedings.
The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs has been conducting hearings into the alleged leak of confidential PDEA documents linking President Marcos to illegal drug use.
The PDEA itself already denied the supposed documents Morales presented as non-existent.
PDEA Director General Moro Virgilio Lazo has strongly refuted Morales' claims, asserting that the documents in question, including a supposed pre-operation report and authority to operate, were nonexistent.
Lazo said Morales' allegations were "fabricated" and “have no basis,” emphasizing that the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs should not rely on testimony from an individual who had previously committed perjury by concealing his dismissal from the Philippine National Police (PNP) during his application to PDEA.
Senators denounced Morales’ testimony for failing to prove allegations of illegal drugs against President Marcos and actress Maricel Soriano.
No report of destab plot
In the same media interview, the President said he has not received any reports of a destabilization plot involving active police officials against his administration.
Marcos dismissed the supposed ouster move against him, claiming that Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel are not engaged in politicking.
Marcos, however, did not rule out the possibility that retired officials could be hatching a destabilization plot.
"I don't see --- wala kaming report na in the ranks. Iyong mga retired baka mayroon, mayroong mga gumagalaw, sumasama sa mga destab na ginagawa. Pero sa ating mga kapulisan at siyempre lalo na sa officer corps, wala naman tayong nakikitang ganun na namumulitika ang mga police (We don't have a report in the ranks. It could be possible that the retired officials could take part in the destabilization efforts. But in the police service, especially the officer corps, we don't see any politicking)," he said.
Marcos called on the police and military to stay committed to their sworn duty and set aside politics.
“Kahit hindi mo ako binoto okay lang sa akin basta’t maging professional ka. Gawin mo ‘yung trabaho mo nang tama. Iyon lang naman ang hinihiling ko sa lahat ng police, sa lahat ng Armed Forces (Even if you did not vote for me, it's okay as long as you're a professional. Just do your job right. That is the only thing I wish from the police and the armed forces),” he added.
Marcos also expressed continued trust and confidence in the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, stressing that he does not need to conduct a loyalty check among their ranks.
Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV earlier claimed that high-ranking police officials were recruiting personnel to join the ouster plot.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said this kind of scheme, no matter how small, would not escape the validation efforts of their intelligence units.
"We have not monitored any police officer who is involved in this so-called destabilization plot and we have not monitored any destabilization plot for that matter," Fajardo said. PNA
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