THE Senate has become a battleground over the issue of whether President Bongbong Marcos indeed used illegal drugs.
The question arose after several PDEA documents went viral on social media, alleging that then-Senator and now-President Marcos was a target of an anti-drug operation.
And because he signed the pre-operations report, former PDEA Agent Jonathan Morales was forced to appear before the Senate.
Morales insisted that the operation was real and that he drafted the pre-ops based on the testimony of a confidential informant who implicated Marcos and the actress Maricel Soriano for allegedly using a white powdery substance.
PDEA refuted the documents, claiming they were not in their database.
However, according to Agent Morales, the operation against Marcos and other accomplices did not push through, so it was not entered into PDEA’s Plans and Operations Reports Management Information System (PORMIS).
Previously, PDEA warned the public about the proliferation of fake documents using artificial intelligence (AI).
But for the Chairman of the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, Senator Ronald dela Rosa, the circulated documents were not AI-generated.
A political strategist also concurs.
“I will say it! I immediately concluded that these papers are genuine because aside from Morales’ claim that he made those papers and signed them—his signature is there and all the vehicles listed in the pre-operations report were also admitted by PDEA to be their organic vehicles, and the vehicles of the team leader… Morales’ personnel vehicle… So, it’s very clear. Aside from that, I also saw, I saw if they claim that this paper was AI Generated or made-up using a computer, I would disagree because I saw the soft copy where it says confidential in letters C and A… The markings of the hole punch, when you use a puncher to insert the fastener into the document, the paper. There are holes, right? There are holes, which means these are old files—somebody’s keeping these old files,” according to Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa, Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs.
“The number 1 question in people’s minds, are the documents real? Yes! Did you make the document? Yes! Did you sign it? Is this your signature? Yes! What else do we need to establish facts?” said Prof. Malou Tiquia, Political Strategist.
Senator dela Rosa also doubts the testimony of Morales’ immediate boss in the Intelligence and Investigation Service (ISS), Director Martin Francia.
This is because Morales claimed that he and Francia spoke before the Senate hearing, which the former ISS chief denies.
“I asked yesterday, it seems like this person is hiding something. And we will discover this now if we invite another former PDEA employee,” Dela Rosa added.
Eight former PDEA personnel swore during the hearing and denied Morales’ report against the President.
But when asked if they were at PDEA when Morales spoke with his confidential informant, all eight said they were not there.
“Were you there during that incident? They all said no Sir, all eight of them. We were not there Sir because it was a Saturday. So, what is the implication now of your denial? How were you able to deny it? None of you were there at PDEA that day. Why did you deny that it didn’t happen? So, their executed affidavit is already questionable,” Dela Rosa stated.
“It seems they are in agreement to cover up the truth in what Mr. Morales is saying?” according to Atty. Salvador Panelo Law Expert.
“Most likely Sir, most likely,” Dela Rosa said.
Meanwhile, many netizens found Senator dela Rosa’s handling of the hearing lacking.
However, the Senator maintains that as the chairman of the committee, he will remain impartial and listen to all sides.
This is the primary focus in conducting the hearings.
Sen. dela Rosa asserts ‘Impartiality’ as Chairman of Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs
“Some people are out for blood Sir, they want me to immediately prosecute the President without the benefit of hearing,” Dela Rosa.
“The process won’t be good if that happens. That’s why we conducted a hearing to get to the bottom of it. Let’s get to the truth,” Dela Rosa stated.
The issue will be discussed again in the Senate next week.
