MANILA, Philippines—Drug suspect Richard Brodett, one of the so-called “Alabang Boys,” sold drugs and lived in a house where marijuana and hallucinogenic mushrooms were strewn about.

His mother joined him in using the substances and even sent her son on a trip to Sagada, Mountain Province, to get marijuana.

These accusations against one of three wealthy, young men caught in a buy-bust operation in September came from his own uncle and cousin, who said they were fed up with Richard’s activities that sullied the family name.

Dave Brodett, a former professional basketball player and actor, and his son Anthony testified Wednesday before the House committee on dangerous drugs that Richard was a drug user and seller.

The testimony is seen to boost the accusation of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) that Richard was part of a syndicate that peddled drugs in nightspots for the rich and trendy.

The PDEA arrested Richard and Jorge Joseph in Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City, and Joseph Tecson at the Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City, on Sept. 20, 2008. Seized from them were Ecstasy tablets, cocaine and marijuana.

Wife and son

PDEA agents later alleged that they were offered bribes of up to P20 million to drop the charges against the three.

Dave, who is the brother of Richard’s father Butch, came to the committee hearing with wife Marissa, son Anthony and PDEA spokesperson Derrick Carreon.

Dave’s family got in touch with the PDEA and has been following up the case months ago, Carreon said.

Dave told lawmakers that his decision to speak was voluntary and that he wanted to clear the family’s name.

Name disrespected

“Yung pangalan namin parang nilapastangan na ng mga kapatid ko. Di nila naisip na di lang sila ang Brodett. Kami rin Brodett (Our name is being disrespected by my siblings. They have not realized that they are not the only Brodetts. We are also Brodetts),” he said.

Dave’s other brother is Philip, a former director and vice president of Philcomsat Holdings Corp., a firm sequestered by the Presidential Commission on Good Government.

Dave said Richard’s mother Myra was also to blame for her son’s conduct.

“Si Myra para bang simpleng simple kala mo walang ginagawa. Siya ang nagtulak sa bata na maging ganitong klase (Myra appears to be very simple, as if she has not done anything wrong. She was the one who pushed her son to be like this),” he said.

Myra Santos Brodette is a real estate broker. She was charged in 2005 with tax evasion by the Bureau of Internal Revenue for failing to settle tax deficiencies amounting to P8.5 million in income taxes and P3.1 million in value-added tax payments.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer tried to get the side of Richard “Butch” Brodett through his son’s lawyer, Felisberto Verano, but the latter refused to issue a statement, saying the family has yet to discuss the matter. Butch himself refused to comment on his brother’s allegations.

The Inquirer also tried to reach Philip Brodett to get his reaction, but repeated calls and text messages made to his mobile phone went unanswered.

Teaching basketball, golf

Dave, who now teaches basketball and golf to kids, was also worried that nobody would get his services if the family name kept being besmirched.

At one point during his testimony, he stopped speaking, apparently overcome with emotion. One lawmaker asked for water to be given to him.

Later, Dave was seen wiping his eyes as his son Anthony patted his back.

In his testimony, Anthony said Richard used and sold drugs. The former also provided details of the role of Richard’s mother in her son’s drug dependence.

Anthony, who sported a “Brodett” tattoo on his right arm, said he and Richard knew each other since they were kids.

“What I know is since 16 he was a user. I don’t want to be a hypocrite. I was taught to use them. As time went on, the mother did nothing because she was a user as well. So how could you teach the child when the mother is a user? Before, I used to stay in their house. Drugs were all over the place,” Anthony said.

When asked, Anthony said the drugs he saw in the house were marijuana and “’shrooms,” short for mushrooms, the hallucinogenic variety.

Richard also once tested positive for drugs when he underwent a drug test at the Land Transportation Office, according to Anthony.

Myra also sent Richard to Sagada to buy marijuana, he added.

Asked if Richard’s family was in the drug business, Anthony replied: “All I can say is Richard really sells drugs. Yes, pusher.”

Matter of principle

Anthony said his decision to speak out against his cousin was a matter of principle, even though he knew that he and his family could be harmed.

“What I am saying is a matter of principle. My identity is at stake. My and my siblings’ future is at stake ... All we have to do is protect ourselves now,” he said.

Anthony said his family was a simple one, and not all Brodetts were rich.

“We might be attacked tomorrow. You’ll never know. Dealing with this people, you never know,” he added.

Disbelief

Anthony also expressed disbelief at the claims of his relatives about Richard.

“We’re saying this now because they are appearing on GMA and saying that Richard is a quiet boy and stuff. It really bothers me already because they could lie straight now and they are believing their lies,” he said.

Carreon told reporters that the agency was looking after the family’s safety, and pointed out that its agents accompanied Dave Brodett’s family as they left the House of Representatives.

Agency pleased

Carreon said the PDEA was pleased that Dave’s family decided to speak up. “Definitely, we appreciate their coming out,” he said.

He said Dave’s family got in touch with the agency a week after the three young men were arrested to check on the status.

His family also warned the PDEA that Richard’s lawyer would push for the release of the three suspects.

Marissa was the one who informed the agency that there was a claim that PDEA Director General, Dionisio Santiago, was supposedly bribed.

“Basically, you could surmise that they are adversely affected that one of the accused was carrying their family name,” Carreon said.