Dela Rosa orders detention of ex-Napolcom staff for ‘lying’ during probe

FILE PHOTO: An irked Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa burst into anger as he believed that ex-National Police Commission (Napolcom) employee Eric “Pikoy” Santiago is not telling the truth during the hearing on Monday, May 20, 2024. Dela Rosa’s photo taken on May 7, 2024. Noy Morcoso / INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — A former National Police Commission (Napolcom) employee has been ordered detained for allegedly lying during the Senate panel investigation of the so-called “PDEA leaks.”

During Monday’s Senate committee hearing on public order and dangerous drugs, panel head Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa burst into anger as he believed ex-Napolcom staff Eric “Pikoy” Santiago was not telling the truth.

The Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs was investigating allegedly leaked documents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) linking celebrities to illegal substance use.

READ: Garin urges Senate panel: Assess ‘PDEA leaks’ evidence first

“Sino ka para magturo sa amin dito? Hindi ka nga naging pulis. Hindi ka nga naging PDEA. Napolcom employee ka lang, na-dismiss ka pa. This committee doesn’t need your expert opinion here. This committee wants your answer as far as your participation in that very telling video recording [or] CCTV,” dela Rosa said.

(Who are you to teach us here? You didn’t even become a police officer. You didn’t even become a PDEA officer. You are just a Napolcom employee, and you were even dismissed. This committee doesn’t need your expert opinion here. This committee wants your answer regarding your participation in that very telling video recording, [or] CCTV.)

Dela Rosa was referring to CCTV footage in which Department of Justice Investigation agent Romeo Enriquez was heard talking with a certain “Eric Santiago,” who allegedly tried to stop former PDEA agent Jonathan Morales from testifying before the Senate, citing alleged death threats.

READ: Source of leaked PDEA papers a liar, says ex-boss

Morales previously presented that CCTV footage before the panel.

“Kagaya po ng sinabi ko noong unang hearing, Sir — niloloko ko po si [Romeo] hindi po kayo. Pero sila ang nagpasakay sa inyo, hindi ako. Kagaya noong sinabi ko ng unang hearing, Sir, meron po sana akong gustong patunayan na dalawang bagay — ang unang bagay ay ‘yung nakarating ako dito dahil sa kwento ko sa dalawa,” said Santiago.

(Just like I said in the first hearing, Sir — I was only fooling Romeo, not you. They are the ones that fooled you, not me. Similar to what I said in the first hearing, I have two things that I want to prove — first, I was able to come here to testify because of my story about the two.)

Dela Rosa continued to ask Santiago what his motive was if he’s just “fooling” others, further pressing him if his genuine desire was to only make an appearance during the Senate probe.

“Forgive me for saying this, hindi ko akalain na papatulan ninyo po ‘yung pang-aano ko po sa kanila, Sir, eh. Hindi ko po inexpect na papatulan ninyo para makarating ako rito,” said Santiago.

(Forgive me for saying this; I didn’t expect you to entertain it. I did not expect you to engage it enough for me to arrive here.)

Santiago’s words irked dela Rosa, who asked, “Do you think people will believe you?” Santiago said: “It depends on who’s listening.”

“You are lying!” dela Rosa shouted.

“As chairman of this committee, I am going to cite you [for] contempt for lying,” he added.