SOLONS SAY:
Testimony of drug suspect’s kin credible
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 17:56:00 01/08/2009
Filed Under: PDEA-DOJ bribery issue, Illegal drugs, Congress
MANILA, Philippines -- Lawmakers at the House of Representatives found the testimony of a relative of one of the suspects in the controversial drug case credible and could be used to bolster the case of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the head of the panel that investigated the issue said Thursday.
"Their testimony is a declaration against the interest of the Brodetts so that's very credible. …it is an admission that is of high probative value, I believe him one hundred percent," Cebu Representative Antonio Cuenco told a news forum in Quezon City.
Parañaque Representative Roilo Golez said Dave Brodett's revelations would help in assessing the credibility of the operations of the PDEA which conducted a buy-bust operation that resulted in the arrest of Brodett's nephew, Richard and two others, Jorge Joseph and Joseph Tecson.
That he has spoken against self-interest gave Brodett "some degree of credibility," according to Bayan Muna partylist Representative Teodoro Casiño.
Added to this, Casino said the closeness of the former basketball player and character actor’s family to the family of the suspect would lend credence to Brodett’s statement that his nephew was a drug user and peddler.
"But whether it strengthens the case or not remains to be seen because those testimonies have never been part of official proceedings," he said.
Dave is the brother of Richard's father, Butch, who is married to Myra. They have another brother, Philip, who allegedly called up justice undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor to follow up on the drug case.
On Wednesday's hearing at the House, Dave Brodett showed up with Marissa, his wife, and son, Anthony, saying they were fed up with nephew’s activities that have tarnished their name.
Dave Brodett said that his nephew was a drug user and seller. The suspect’s mother was also a user and even sent her son to Sagada to get marijuana.
The PDEA arrested the Young Brodett and Joseph in Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City, and Tecson at the Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City, on Sept. 20, 2008. Seized from them were Ecstasy tablets, cocaine and marijuana.
PDEA agents later alleged that they were offered bribes of up to P50 million to drop the charges against the three.
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