MANILA – “A professional liar” was how President Ferdinand “’Bongbong”’ Marcos Jr. described former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) intelligence officer Jonathan Morales who linked him to illegal drugs.
It is hard to take Morales’ statements seriously, according to the Chief Executive, citing the former’s case regarding a false testimony and history of dragging people to controversy.
“Mahirap naman bigyan ng importansya ‘yan,” Marcos said in an interview in General Santos City on Friday.
“You know, this fellow is a professional liar at parang jukebox. Basta maghulog ka ng pera kahit anong kantang gusto mo, kakantahin niya.”
He added: “Tingnan mo na lang ang kanyang (track record), may kaso siya na false testimony. Marami siyang history na kung sino-sino sinasangkot kung saan-saan. Parang ‘yun ang hanapbuhay yata niya, kaya professional liar ang tawag ko sa kanya.”
Morales claimed in a Senate hearing last week that leaked 2012 PDEA documents allegedly implicating then senator Marcos and actress Maricel Soriano to illegal drug use were authentic.
Morales added that the supposed operation against Marcos and Soriano in 2012 did not push through as it was stopped by former PDEA deputy director general Carlos Gadapan, as allegedly ordered by then Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.
PDEA director general Moro Virgilio Lazo, for his part, stated in the same hearing that the supposed leaked report does not exist as he also questioned the credibility of Morales.
PDEA also released a statement indicating that the two documents were not found in their Plans and Operations Reports Management Information System.
But, Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, a former Philippine National Police chief and the one who conducted the Senate hearing, believes that the documents were not fabricated.
Earlier this year, former President Rodrigo Duterte accused Marcos of being a drug addict, claiming that he saw a PDEA document linking the Chief Executive to illegal drugs./PN
