MANILA, Philippines — Actress Maricel Soriano on Tuesday admitted owning a condominium unit in Makati City linked to alleged illegal drug activities over a decade ago.
Soriano’s name was dragged into alleged leaked Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operational documents that tagged certain personalities to illegal drug use.
Facing the Senate hearing for the first time, the actress confirmed owning a condo unit at Rizal Tower Building in Makati City.
READ: Maricel Soriano attends Senate hearing on ‘leaked’ PDEA report
One of the alleged leaked documents mentioned that a group of showbiz and politically affluent personalities were “frequently using illegal drugs inside Unit 4-C Rizal Tower Building, Rockwell Makati City.”
READ: PDEA debunks fake operational documents circulating online
However, during the Senate committee hearing on public order and dangerous drugs, its chairman, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, mentioned a different condo unit number, 46-C, when he asked Soriano if she owned it.
The actress answered yes but added she already sold the property in 2012.
“Sa’yo ‘yun? (Is that yours?)” dela Rosa asked.
“Opo…hanggang 2012 po,” the actress said. “Nabenta ko na ho ‘yun. Wala na ako doon.”
(Yes, until 2012. I already sold it. I don’t live there anymore.)
Dela Rosa noted that the PDEA supposedly issued the alleged leaked pre-operation report and authority to operate in the same year.
READ: Marcos laughs off ‘leaked’ PDEA report vs him, Maricel Soriano
He then asked the actress for the exact month she sold the property.
“Hindi po ako sigurado sa month, pero ‘yung year naalala ko,” Soriano said.
(I’m unsure about the month but recall the year.)
In the same hearing, Dela Rosa brought up the 2011 complaint lodged against the actress by her two former housemaids.
Citing news reports, the senator said the complainants supposedly left the condo unit of the actress “because of her alleged cocaine use.”
“Hindi po totoo ‘yan (That’s not true),” Soriano answered.
She confirmed, though, that the two helpers left because they allegedly stole from her.
“Totoo na binubugbog mo sila?” Dela Rosa asked again.
(Is it true that you beat them up?)
“Paano ko naman po bubugbugin, dalawa sila,” Soriano said.
(How can I beat them when there are two of them?)