Self-confessed Davao Death Squad member Arturo Lascanas (left) and veteran anti-drug operative Eduardo Acierto.
HOUSE Assistant Majority Leader and Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Raul Angelo “Jil” D. Bongalon on Monday called on the Senate Committee on Public Order chaired by Senator Bato dela Rosa to call self-confessed Davao Death Squad member Arturo Lascanas and veteran anti-drug operative Eduardo Acierto to the so-called “PDEA leaks” hearings of the Senate.
Bongalon, during the daily press briefing at the House of Representatives, said that instead of focusing on the testimony of disgraced ex-PDEA agent Jonathan Morales whom he described as a “pathological liar,” Sen. Dela Rosa should invite Lascanas and Acierto instead as they are more credible witnesses in the illegal drugs trade.
“Kasi kung pinag-uusapan lang naman natin yung droga, para kasi nakikita natin one-sided yung investigation and wala naman po tayong nakukuhang credible testimony or information being said by this dismissed PDEA Agent (Morales). Kung pag-uusapan lang naman natin yung droga, bakit ‘di natin patawagin si Lascanas o si Acierto?” Bongalon said.
“I can recommend them to be part of this investigation and we’ll see. Kasi itong mga taong ito alam naman natin na naging bahagi na ito ng imbestigasyon noon pa, at sila po ay may mga dokumentong pinepresenta, may co-plan, may legitimate operations and therefore, for the purposes of having a fair discussion about drug related cases, let’s call these guys, Acierto and Lascanas,” he added.
Bongalon said that the hearings on the testimony of Morales, who was dismissed from PDEA due to dishonesty and misconduct, seem to go nowhere as senators themselves are already questioning the propriety of continuing with the probe.
If Sen. Dela Rosa can invite Lascanas and Acierto to the inquiry, Bongalon said they can shed light on the anti-drug war of the previous administration.
“We’ll see kung sino po talaga ang nagsasabi ng totoo and kung ano talaga ang totoo, o kaya ang realidad patungkol sa war on drugs dito po sa ating bansa. Let them tell the whole world na kung anong kinalaman nila or ano ang nalalaman nila patungkol sa droga, at mga naging biktima, most especially during the previous administration,” Bongalon said.
He also said the integrity of the institution of the Senate is already suffering with the continued testimony of Morales as allowed by Dela Rosa.
“What is at stake here is the integrity of the institution. Kung madalas tayong makakakita, makakarinig ng ganitong klaseng imbetigasyon in aid of legislation, wala naman pong nakukuha na sapat na ebidensya, impormasyon out of these three hearings,” Bongalon said.
“I guess the Senate leadership has to intervene because even members of the Senate have already commented and reacted to the way the proceeding is being conducted. Sabi naman po nila na wala naman pong saysay iyong mga testimonya nitong dismissed PDEA agent and therefore what we have right now is fabricated evidence being presented before a committee hearing,” he added.
“Sabi nga duon ni Pangulong Marcos, he’s a professional liar. Ako naman, sinasabi ko sa kanya is a pathological liar, he keeps on lying. So, with this kind of witness being presented before an investigation, what is at stake here again is the quality of the investigation.”
