HOUSE leaders have expressed disappointment with Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa for placing trust in a dubious source over the head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) regarding the alleged leaked documents implicating President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. to illegal drug activities.
Deputy Majority Leaders Faustino “Inno” Dy (Isabela, 6th District) and Jude Acidre (Tingog Party-list) further lamented Dela Rosa’s insistence that the purported leaked PDEA documents were authentic simply because they bore markings, including punch holes.
“Para sa akin napakadaling i-distinguish kung sino po ang nagsasabi ng totoo at sino ang nagsasabi ng kasinungalingan,” Dy said during a press conference at the House of Representatives on Thursday.
For his part, Acidre said: “Marahil kitang-kita naman ng taong bayan kung sino ang dapat paniwalaan. Hindi ko lang alam kung bakit ‘yung kasama nating senador, ‘yun ang gusto niyang paniwalaan.”
Dela Rosa, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, put his trust in former PDEA intelligence officer Jonathan Morales, who claimed to have prepared and signed the documents purportedly revealing the agency’s anti-illegal drug operations targeting then-senator Bongbong Marcos and actress Maricel Soriano in 2012.
This assertion comes despite PDEA Director General Moro Virgilio Lazo testifying before Dela Rosa’s committee that the documents, including a purported pre-operation report and authority to operate, do not exist.
Lazo went as far as categorically stating that Morales’ allegations were “fabricated” and “have no basis,” adding that the Senate panel 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.
“Ang sa akin, nakakapagtaka din kasi nga kung titingnan mo iyong dalawang panig, isa po ‘yung former agent ng PDEA nagsasabi na totoo itong dokumentong ito, at ito naman ‘yung mismong PDEA na, ‘yung mismong ahensiya na ang nagsasabi na walang katotohanan iyang dokumento na iyan, peke iyan, non-existent ‘yung dokumento na ‘yan,” Dy pointed out.
Dy questioned Dela Rosa’s refusal to accept PDEA’s stance, underscoring the potential implications for the agency’s integrity.
He also warned against blindly accepting information found online, emphasizing how easy it is to fabricate documents in today’s digital age.
“Ang dali pong i-fabricate ng ganong dokumento, na hindi porket may punch hole o may mga data doon o may mga information doon na posible ay totoo, hindi ibig sabihin na totoo na kaagad ‘yung dokumentong iyon. E mismong ‘yung ahensiya na po ang nagsasabi na hindi nga ito totoo,” Dy said.
“Bakit natin papaniwalaan ang mga taong dati na ngang may bahid sa kanilang history, may bahid na sa kanilang career? Bakit tayo maniniwala sa taong ganun?” he added.
Acidre underscored the importance of objective evidence over individual claims, particularly in light of the PDEA’s confirmation of electronic records.
“It’s one man’s word against the system,” Acidre said, citing PDEA’s confirmation of electronic records, including plans, operations, and serialized numbers within their IMS system, as objective evidence contradicting Morales’ testimony.
He continued, “Ang sinabi ng isang may record ng credibility ay questionable, sabihin na lang natin isang dismissed PDEA agent, marahil kitang-kita naman ng taong bayan kung sino ang dapat paniwalaan.”
Acidre expressed confusion over why Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, chose to believe the testimony of a dismissed police officer.
Meanwhile, Acidre expressed dismay over the current state of politics, stressing the need to differentiate between those truly committed to the nation’s advancement and those driven by personal gain.
“Nakakalungkot lang minsan, ang ingay ng politika umabot na sa level ng ganito,” Acidre said. “Mayroon tayong Presidente na napakasipag at mula nung umupo sa pwesto ay tuluy-tuloy ang kanyang pagtatrabaho para maiangat ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan.”
“Merong iilan na talagang patuloy na hindi napapagod din na ibagsak pababa ang ating bansa,” Acidre lamented.
He called on fellow Filipinos to be vigilant and discerning, urging them to identify those who genuinely work for the nation’s welfare amid the noise of political discourse.
“Sana ho ay magmatiyag ang ating mga kababayan, ang ating kapwa Pilipino. Makita nila sino iyong para sa ikabubuti natin at sino iyong nag-iingay lang para sa mga pansarili niyang interes,” he concluded.
