Former PDEA chiefs amplify ex-agent Morales' questionable credibility

FORMER CHIEFS of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) attended on Monday the third hearing of the so-called "PDEA Leaks" in the Senate to question the credibility of former agent Jonathan Morales.

Former PDEA director general Dionisio Santiago, who led the agency from 2006 to 2010, was presented by Senator Jinggoy Estrada as a "surprise witness" before the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs.

Santiago told Morales is now being called "STL" by former colleagues after hearing his testimonies in the Senate.

"Professional storyteller liar (STL). ‘Yun ang sabi sa akin (That's what they told me)," Santiago said.

Arturo Cacdac, the PDEA chief in 2012, denied Morales’ accusations that the leadership had prejudice on him.

Cacdac recalled that under his helm in December 2012, Cacdac admitted planting evidence during an operation against Filipino-Chinese drug suspects.

“Kaya ako po ay namangha. Ang tagal ko po sa serbisyo, ngayon lang ako nakaranas nang ganun (So I was surprised. I've been in the service for a while, that was the first time I experienced something like that),” he said.

Cacdac said Morales shamed the PDEA and National Prosecution Service.

“Dumaan po ‘yan sa preliminary investigation. Pinaniwalaan na po sila kaya umabot sa korte, eh pagkatapos sasabihin niya pinlant lang ‘yung ebidensya (It went through the preliminary investigation. They were found credible so the cases reached the court, only for him to say that the evidence was just planted)," Cacdac said.

Morales confirmed Cacdac’s testimony.

Earlier, Estrada questioned why the disgraced PDEA agent, whom he branded as a “congenital liar,” is still being allowed to testify in the Senate despite facing various criminal complaints in different local courts, which include planting of evidence, estafa, extortion and giving false testimony.

Morales previously provided testimony on the purported authenticity of leaked 2012 documents implicating then-senator Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and actress Maricel Soriano to illegal drug use.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri had reminded his colleagues to be careful in the conduct of public inquiries, which he said should not be used for political persecution. (Wilnard Bacelonia)