Barbers hits background of ex-PDEA agent invited by Senate

Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (INQUIREr file photo / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers has questioned the credentials of a former anti-drug operative who was invited by the Senate for a hearing, saying that the officer was dishonorably discharged from the police service.

Barbers, who heads the House of Representatives’ committee on dangerous drugs, said in a statement on Wednesday that former agent Jonathan Morales was dismissed from the Philippine National Police (PNP) before joining the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Barbers said Morales is now part of a private organization which advocates against drug use, and links celebrities and politicians into the illegal substances.

“Base sa mga ulat, si Morales ay na-dismiss sa police service bago pa sya nag-apply as PDEA agent.  Sa pinirmahan nya na personal data sheet sa PDEA, sinabi nya umano na wala, pero meron pala, syang kaso sa PNP bago sya nag-apply sa PDEA,” Barbers said.

(Based on reports, Morales was dismissed from the police service before he applied as a a PDEA agent.  In the personal data sheet he signed with PDEA, he said that he did not have a case, but he did have one with the PNP before he applied with the PDEA.)

“Nuong nakalusot na siya sa PDEA, naakusahan naman siya later ng kanyang mga superiors at kasamahan mismo sa PDEA na umano’y sangkot sa pilipit na pag-aresto at P8 million extortion sa isang suspected Tsinoy drug lord,” he added. 

 (When he got through PDEA, he faced complaints from his superiors for the alleged forced arrest and the supposed attempt to extort P8 million from a suspected Filipino-Chinese drug lord.)

During the hearing of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs regarding the 1.4 ton shabu seized in Alitagtag, Batangas, Morales was invited to shed light on the alleged documents leaked — a Pre-Operation Report dated March 11, 2012 showing the name of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as the target.

Morales said he processed the document — saying that these were legitimate — but he said he does not know who released the files.

PDEA, including Director General Virgilio Moro Lazo, have denied the existence of this report, saying that Morales cannot be trusted because of his past.

Barbers also noted that there were supposed reports that former PDEA chief Arturo Cacdac “despised the former’s (Morales) dishonesty by claiming in a congressional hearing that ‘he (Morales) was asked to plant evidence, to produce evidence”.

The lawmaker also asked why Morales was invited by the Senate when the hearing was supposed to be about the drug bust in Batangas.

“The Senate hearing was supposed to be an inquiry on the seizure of 1.4 tons of shabu in Batangas. I’m surprised, and many of us are wondering, why Morales would appear and be included as (a) resource person in that hearing. Is there something, a drama maybe, that is unfolding on this issue?” he asked.