Fuming over bribery claims, Bato summons vlogger to attend Senate probe

Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa presides over the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs hearing in this file photo taken on February 27, 2024. Senate PRIB file photo / Bibo Nueva España

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has invited vlogger Maharlika to personally attend a Senate hearing after fuming over the latter’s bribery allegations against him.

“We invite Maharlika…her physical presence is needed here,” Dela Rosa said during the hearing of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs on Tuesday.

READ: PDEA debunks fake operational documents circulating online

The committee, headed by Dela Rosa, is investigating the alleged leaked Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) documents linking President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and actress Maricel Soriano to illegal drugs.

During the latter part of the hearing, Dela Rosa briefly paused to read a Facebook post from the vlogger.

“Senator Bato dela Rosa, si Marcos bangag ang subject hindi ako at si Morales. My god, magtatanong na ba ako na nabayaran ka ni Liza,” the post read, referring to anti-drug advocate Laban ng Pamilyang Pilipino Chairman Jonathan Morales.

(Senator Bato dela Rosa, Marcos is the subject, not Morales or me. My god, should I ask if Liza paid you?)

To which Dela Rosa blurted out: “How irresponsible media personality! We are trying our best here to come up with the truth and nothing but the truth.”

“Maharlika, punta ka dito pakinggan ka namin, hindi ‘yung gagamitin mo ‘yung power of the media para siraan ako,” the senator added.

(Maharlika, come here and let us hear you out instead of using the power of the media to discredit me.)

Morales, a former PDEA investigation agent, was the signatory to the supposed documents, while Maharlika publicized them on her social media account.

READ: After P13-B shabu seizure, Marcos says no need to change anti-drug strategy

To emphasize the urgency of the hearing and silence allegations that he is sleeping on the issue, Dela Rosa explained that he actually used his “oversight function” to speed up the hearing process.

Still infuriated by Maharlika’s remarks, Dela Rosa even questioned Morales if he felt that he was being “persecuted” in the hearing, to which he replied, “No.”

“Nababayaran ako ni Liza Marcos? How dare you? How dare you? Do you think may presyo ‘yung mukha ko?” Dela Rosa  asked.

(I am being paid by Liza Marcos? How dare you? How dare you? Do you think my face has a price?)

He also pointed out that no other senators besides him were present in the meeting.

“Maharlika, tignan mo kung ilang senador ang nandito ngayon,” Dela Rosa asked, pointing to empty seats next to him.

(Maharlika, look how many senators are here right now.)

“Sino lang ang senador na nandito ngayon naghe-hearing?” he added.

(Who are the senators present in the hearing right now?)

“Kung gusto kong pagtakpan si Presidente Marcos dapat hindi na ako nag hearing dito, Maharlika. Kung nabayaran ako ni First Lady wala na, hindi ko na ni-conduct ‘yung hearing. But my god, we are talking about the future of the Philippines,” he added.

(If I wanted to cover up for President Marcos, I wouldn’t have held this hearing, Maharlika. If the First Lady paid me, then that’s it. I wouldn’t have conducted the hearing. But my god, we are talking about the future of the Philippines.)

Dela Rosa further asserted that he cannot be “dictated” by Malacañang.

“We are a co-equal branch of government with that of the executive. You might say that I am under the baton, that I am under the dictate of Malacañang. Never. No, my dear,” he added.

During the hearing, Morales stood firm and said that the leaked documents involving Marcos and Soriano in illegal drugs were true.

But the alleged PDEA operation on Marcos, which was supposed to happen in 2012 based on the documents, did not push through, as Morales claimed that former PDEA Deputy Director General Carlos Gadapan told him not to due to former Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.’s order.

However, PDEA Director General Moro Virgilio Lazo reiterated that they were fake.