SEEMINGLY exasperated by the Senate’s ongoing “PDEA leaks” probe, House lawmakers did not hold back in criticizing the investigation, with one bluntly labeling the hearings as “in aid of election.”
“Ito pong hearing na ito maliwanag po ay hindi na po in aid of legislation, kung hindi in aid of election at ang tanging layunin lamang ay sirain at yurakan ang pangalan po ng ating Pangulo,” Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua said during Monday’s press conference at the House of Representatives.
“Kaya sa akin pong paniniwala, ito po ay pagsasayang lamang ng pera ng taong bayan at oras ng Senado,” Chua, a lawyer, added.
Chua did not elaborate his “in aid of election” remark, but he appeared to be
referring to Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs conducting the PDEA leaks probe.
Dela Rosa, who served as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during the earlier part of the Duterte administration amid the controversial war on drugs, is anticipated to run for reelection in the 2025 midterm polls.
On Monday, the Dela Rosa panel proceeded with its fourth hearing on the purported leaked PDEA documents, which allegedly implicate President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and other personalities, including actress Maricel Soriano, in illegal drug activities.
This move came despite mounting calls from different quarters for senators to stop the investigation due to the lack of substantial evidence and the questionable testimonies presented during the hearings.
House Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales 1st District Rep. Jay Khonghun urged Dela Rosa to issue a public apology to the President if the investigation fails to substantiate its claims.
“Nakikiusap ako na kung walang mapatunayan sa hearing na ito na ebidensya, sana humingi sila ng tawad sa ating Pangulo dahil talagang dina-drag nila ‘yung pangalan, ‘yung malinis na pangalan ng ating Pangulo lalong lalo na sa mga usapin na wala naman talaga siyang kinalaman,” Khonghun said.
Expressing bewilderment over the prolonged Senate probe, Deputy Speaker and Quezon 2nd District Rep. David “Jay-jay” Suarez raised concerns about the allocation of resources for an investigation that lacks substance.
He emphasized the importance of trusting government and private institutions, highlighting the repeated assertions from them that the accusations against the President hold no truth.
“Hindi pa ba sila tapos? I mean, ito lang talaga iyong posisyon ko ha. I really don’t understand why so much time, money and effort is being poured into something that has no value whatsoever,” Suarez said, questioning the necessity of continuing the inquiry.
He pointed out inconsistencies in the statements of the lone witness, dismissed PDEA intelligence officer Jonathan Morales, and raised doubts about his credibility.
Suarez also lamented the implications of dragging private individuals into the controversy, emphasizing that they have no involvement in the alleged wrongdoing.
He urged for evidence to be presented before implicating individuals in the probe.
“I really don’t understand, bakit po siya (Morales) binibigyan ng airtime? Not unless there’s another intention for the hearing,” Suarez said, suggesting potential ulterior motives behind the investigation.
He added, “And what makes it sad is that people who are private are being dragged into this mess that actually have no interest whatsoever in the alleged, alleged pa nga ito hindi pa nga napapatunayan na totoo. Sana pinatunayan muna nilang totoo bago nila idinamay iyong mga pribadong indibiduwal.”
Meanwhile, Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores warned of the potential threat to both the integrity of the President and the Senate as an institution.
“What’s being threatened right now is not just the integrity of the President, but also the integrity of the Senate as a body kasi they keep on holding investigations like that,” Flores pointed out.
He criticized the continuous conduct of hearings despite warnings from other senators to proceed with caution, particularly in light of emerging information.
Flores again likened the PDEA leaks probe to a circus, emphasizing the need to avoid turning it into a spectacle.
“And again, I said this before, if you hold the circus, you’ll naturally bring in the clowns,” he added.
