Why are PDEA leaks still heard?

By: Gabriel Pabico Lalu – 19 minutes ago

Deputy Speaker David Suarez
(Photo from House of Representatives Facebook page)

MANILA, Philippines – While thanking Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri for reminding him that hearings must not be turned into political circuses, House Deputy Speaker David Suarez asks why what are believed to be fabricated claims about figures taking drugs , still being discussed.

Suarez said in a news conference Wednesday that he expected more from Senate leadership on why the Senate Committee on Public Policy and Dangerous Drugs was allowed to continue discussing issues based on a questionable document.

The House official was referring to the panel's hearing on documents allegedly leaked from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) that linked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and actress Maricel Soriano to drug use. PDEA officials have denied the existence of the document, but committee chairman and Senator Ronald dela Rosa believes the document is legitimate.

“Not only did I expect more from the good senator, but I expected more from the Senate leadership. I'm not entirely sure how their processes work in the Senate, but in our case in Congress, when you do a motu proprio hearing, it requires a two-thirds majority of the committee, and the House leadership should agree to that. That’s what we do in Congress,” Suarez said.

“I thank and congratulate Senate President Migz for saying that hearings should not be turned into a political circus. But the panel has already held two hearings. If that was the case, they should have stopped it from the start, right? Because they should have first discussed whether it has substance, whether it is formally sufficient and whether there is a legitimate basis for continuing the investigation,” he added.

According to Suarez, Senate leadership appears to have simply allowed the Dela Rosa-led committee to proceed with the hearings even though the PDEA did not certify the documents.

“But why did they allow two hearings to be held when we know that even in the two hearings there was nothing but lies, fabricated truths, uncorroborated statements and no evidence to speak of at all. So, as I have said before, can we just focus on nation building and unifying the country and not be divisive when it comes to our efforts as duly elected officials of our country?” he asked.

Zubiri warned his colleagues on Tuesday against turning their investigation into a political circus or a witch hunt, noting that “very serious allegations” had been raised during the discussions of the said Senate panel. According to Zubiri, no documentary evidence such as photographs or corroborating witness statements was provided.

The Senate leader also questioned why the president's drug test was brought up in the hearing “even though it does not appear to be relevant or important to the subject matter of the motu proprio investigation.”

READ: Zubiri to senators: Do not turn the investigation into a political circus or a witch hunt

Instead of focusing on the personalities implicated in the matter, Suarez believes the panel must follow Senator Francis Escudero's suggestions – that the focus should be on why the document was leaked and whether it was leaked at all is authentic.

“And the point made by Senator Chiz Escudero is excellent – ​​the point was the leak of the document, so why are we talking about personalities in the document? So these are two different issues that need to be addressed. Because if it is just about the leak, then we will ask who leaked it, how it leaked and who is involved,” Suarez said.

“But they have dragged in various personalities and names who should not actually be included in the committee's investigation. I appreciate it, firstly, you are out to vilify and destroy the personalities mentioned […] For me, this is very unfortunate, it saddens me that we have to descend to this level of political discourse where we should focus our attention on more important issues like the West Philippine Sea,” he added.

On Tuesday, Soriano appeared before the hearings to refute claims that she was targeted for drug use in a pre-op report. The document in question was reviewed by PDEA agent Jonathan Morales, who was invited to the hearing.

READ: Maricel Soriano on Senate PDEA leak inquiry: “Nakakakaba, nakakatakot”

But House Democrats have questioned Morales' credibility and why he was invited to a hearing that would focus on a drug investigation in Alitagtag, Batangas. Last Wednesday, Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers asked why Morales' statements were necessary for the April 16 drug raid.

READ: Trust in fake PDEA documents questioned: A prelude to interim polls?

Then on May 2, Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre said he and other lawmakers were also confused about why Morales was invited to the Senate hearing in the first place, and questioned whether it could be a prelude to midterm election politics.