Actress Maricel Soriano attends and takes oath before the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs hearing on the alleged leak of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency documents related to her and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s purported involvement in illegal drugs on Tuesday, May 7 2024. (Screengrab from Senate of the Philippines official YouTube page)
MANILA, Philippines— Facing a Senate hearing for the first time turned out to be a frightening experience for the so-called Diamond Star, actress Maricel Soriano.
She herself described it as “Nakakakaba at nakakatakot (Scary and frightening).”
She had to clear her name in the Senate probe after being dragged into an alleged leaked operational report of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
“Sa totoo lang po, hindi po malinaw sa akin kung bakit po ako naimbitahan sa hearing,” Soriano said during the hearing of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs.
(It is unclear why I was invited to the Senate hearing.)
“Nagtataka lang po ako dahil lahat ng tumestigo dito ay nagsabing hindi na verify ang information ni Mr. Morales at walang imbestigasyon na naganap. Pasyensya na po kung nalilito po talaga ako dito,” she said.
(I’m just wondering because all those who testified here said that Mr. Morales’s information was not verified and that no investigation occurred. I’m sorry if I’m confused about this.)
She was apparently referring to Jonathan Morales, chairman of the anti-drug group Laban ng Pamilyang Pilipino.
A former PDEA investigation agent, Morales was also a signatory to the alleged leaked operational documents, supposedly linking certain personalities to illegal drugs.
Soriano, nevertheless, vowed to cooperate with the Senate probe.
Her only appeal is that her lawyer be allowed to answer legal questions on her behalf.
After hearing her statement, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa advised the actress to rest.
“Pwede ka na sigurong magpahinga. Kanina ka pa tense na tense dyan,” Dela Rosa, chairman of the committee, said.
(You should probably take a rest. You’ve been so tense.)
Before this, Soriano readily answered all the questions raised during the hearing.
She admitted, for instance, that she owned a condominium unit in Makati City, which was linked to illegal drug activities based on the alleged leaked PDEA report.
However, according to her, she had already sold the property in 2012— the same year the supposed operational documents were issued.
Soriano also answered questions surrounding a 2011 complaint filed by her two former housemaids.
The actress categorically denied beating them and claimed that they just left the condominium unit after stealing some items from her.