IN CONTEMPT. Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs chairperson Senator Ronald Dela Rosa (left) cites in contempt former National Police Commission employee Eric Santiago (with raised fist, upper right) and former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency agent Jonathan Morales for "continuously lying" before the panel on Monday (May 20, 2024). Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers on Tuesday (May 21) said Dela Rosa should take it as a sign to end the probe on alleged leaked confidential PDEA documents. (PNA photos by Avito Dalan)
MANILA – It’s time for the Senate to end its probe on the so-called “PDEA leaks” after it cited former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agent Jonathan Morales and former National Police Commission employee Eric Santiago in contempt for "continuously lying" before the panel, according to Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers on Tuesday.
Barbers, also the chairperson of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, said there is no more reason to continue the inquiry when its resource persons have been caught lying.
“Bakit natin i-entertain yung mga kasinungalingan ng mga ito? So dapat talaga, sa tingin ko matu-tuldokan na yan at mawawala na ang usapin na yan (Why would we entertain the lies of these people? So, I really think the hearings are ending and the issues will go away),” he said in an interview.
Senator Ronald Dela Rosa’s Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs has so far conducted four hearings, where current and former officials of PDEA all denied the accusations of Morales on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s involvement in illegal drugs.
During the fourth hearing on Monday, Dela Rosa cited Morales and Santiago in contempt for lying to the panel and ordered their detention at the Senate in Pasay City.
Barbers said he leaves it to Dela Rosa if he would apologize to the President.
“But the fact remains na wala hong nakuhang matibay, mabigat na ebidensya duon sa hearing na nangyari, for the reason na karamihan duon sa mga inimbita ay nagsisinungaling (that no concrete evidence was unearthed in the hearing, for the reason that the invited resource persons were lying,” Barbers said. “Sa aking paniniwala, dahil sa nangyari kahapon na na-cite nya (Dela Rosa) for contempt itong mga nagsisinungaling na resource persons, ‘yan na ho ang katapusan ng hearing na ‘yan (It is my belief that what happened on Monday when Dela Rosa himself cited for contempt these lying resource persons, that is the end of that probe).” (PNA)
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