Reliance on fake PDEA docs questioned: A prelude to midterm polls?

Logo of Tingog Party-list. Photo from Tingog Party-list FB page

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker has questioned some sectors’ reliance on documents linking President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to alleged drug use despite it being debunked by authorities, speculating that this might be a prelude to the politics of the midterm elections.

In a briefing on Thursday, Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre said he and other lawmakers are confused as to why former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operative Jonathan Morales was even invited into the Senate hearing, which was supposed to be about the recent drug bust in Alitagtag, Batangas.

Acidre said claims that Marcos and other celebrities are the subject of an anti-illegal drug operation might be just meant to destabilize the government.

“Actually, I watched the entire hearing the other day, and I am confused why Morales was brought into the discussions, when we know that the goal of that hearing was to shed light on the illegal drugs seized in Batangas.  Based on the testimony it was proven that this Morales is telling lies.  We saw that PDEA was able to explain that all their operational reports are computerized and serialized,” he said.

“I think it becomes even more clear now that these incidents are part of a bigger effort to discredit and destabilize the current administration,” he added.

According to Acidre, attempts to drag this issue to news cycles might be the start of politics — which must be avoided.

“We have confirmed, the PDEA leadership has confirmed, its electronic […] in their system, you cannot place another file within because there is a serialized number, it is done by sequence.  So that’s already objective information, presented by a person whose record of credibility is questionable — let’s say a dismissed PDEA agent — maybe the people know who to believe,” he said.

Acidre said he just does not know why Senator Ronald dela Rosa insists on the authenticity of the PDEA document.

“I just don’t know why our colleague from the Senate wants to believe that.  But I am sure, this is the political noise that we should avoid,” he added.

On Wednesday, dela Rosa said he is convinced that the PDEA documents are not fabricated, because there were puncher holes seen on the side of the document.

“Klaro na siya ay galing sa isang malaking… parang folder. Kung saan tinanggal lang siya sa fastener. Dahil ‘yung pag-picture sa kanya at pag-photocopy ay nakikita sa kanya ang hole puncher na dinaanan niya para ipasok sa fastener” the senator explained.

(It is clear that it is from a huge folder.  It was just removed from a fastener.  Because the photo and photocopy showed puncher holes used to make way for the fastener.)

Isabela 6th District Rep. Faustino Dy V meanwhile urged dela Rosa to trust the agency which has been insisting that the document is fabricated — and not a former PDEA agent with a questionable background.

“It’s perplexing because if you’d look at the two sides, one is a former agent of PDEA saying that the document is true, and another is the actual PDEA, the agency, which is saying that it is fake, non-existent.  So, who would you believe?  If you would not believe the agency, you’re questioning the integrity of the whole institution, the whole agency itself,” Dy said.

“And that’s something, coming from a former PNP chief-senator, it’s something that he needs to trust the agency, the PDEA.  And the one claiming authenticity is a disgraced agent already — why would we believe anything he says?” he asked.

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 Marcos as the target.

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

READ: Those found leaking PDEA documents may face sanctions, says CSC 

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

Marcos has been linked by some figures, including former President Rodrigo Duterte, to drug use.  In November 2021 — even before the campaign season for the 2022 polls — Duterte said one of the candidates for president uses cocaine, which many believed was Marcos.

READ: Duterte: Cocaine-using presidential bet elude cops by doing drugs on yacht, plane 

Marcos however has denied this, submitting himself to a drug test days after Duterte’s assertion.  Last January, the President also refused to give weight to the former president’s accusations, noting that it might be the fentanyl acting up.

Duterte previously admitted to using fentanyl, a strong painkiller that is said to be more potent than morphine and heroin.