Former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) investigation agent Jonathan Morales during the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs’ resumption of its investigation on PDEA’s documents on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (File photo from NOY MORCOSO / INQUIRER.net)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has compared former anti-drug agent Jonathan Morales, who linked him to illegal drugs, to a ‘jukebox’ — as the latter would sing whatever song is directed in exchange for money.
In an ambush interview with reporters on Friday, Marcos said that it is hard to give importance to Morales’ claims, believing that the former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) personnel is a professional liar.
Morales testified before the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs and said that pre-operation reports linking Marcos and actress Maricel Soriano to drugs are authentic.
Incumbent PDEA officials, however, debunked this, saying that such a file does not exist.
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“Mahirap naman bigyan ng importansya ‘yan. You know, this fellow is a professional liar at parang jukebox ‘yan. Kung anong ihulog mo — basta maghulog ka ng pera, kahit anong kantang gusto mo, kakantahin niya,” Marcos said on the sidelines of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) in General Santos City.
(It is hard to give importance to that. This fellow is a professional liar, and he is like a jukebox. Whatever you drop, you drop money. Whatever song you want, he will sing it.)
“Kaya wala, wala… Walang saysay. Tingnan mo na lang ang kanyang record,” he added.
(So it’s nothing. There’s nothing. It’s useless. Just look at his record.)
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Marcos also questioned Morales’ records, as it was revealed in the hearings that the ex-PDEA agent was dismissed from the police service and admonished during his time at the anti-narcotics bureau.
“Tingnan mo na lang ang kanyang… may kaso siya na false testimony. Iyan ganyan. Ilan bang mga… Marami siyang history na kung sino-sino sinasangkot kung saan-saan,” the President said.
(Look at his… he has a case of false testimony. Like that. How many… He has a lot of history wherein he has dragged many persons into many issues.)
“Parang ‘yon ang… doon siya. Iyon ang hanapbuhay yata nya kaya professional liar ang tawag ko sa kanya,” he explained.
(It’s like that’s… there he is. That seems to be his livelihood, so a professional liar is what I call him.)
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After the Senate panel headed by Senator Ronald dela Rosa held hearings on Morales’ testimonies, House of Representatives lawmakers such as Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers questioned why the ex-PDEA agent was being interviewed given his questionable credentials.
Barbers and other lawmakers also asked why the panel was considering Morales’ testimonies when the hearing was supposed to be about the 1.4 tons of shabu seized in Alitagtag, Batangas.
PDEA, including Director General Virgilio Moro Lazo, has denied the existence of this report, saying that Morales cannot be trusted because of his records.