Senators grill former PDEA agent Jonathan Morales during hearing on alleged 'PDEA leaks'
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00:00Information, to say the least, is a very powerful weapon that can either be used to destroy
00:05or build a reputation.
00:07But coming from a questionable source of the alleged PIDEA leaks, even the Senate president
00:13has an apprehension whether the ongoing upper chamber probe on the issue should even be
00:18allowed to continue.
00:20Daniel Manalastas has the full details.
00:25The senators continued its hearing on the so-called PIDEA leaks.
00:30Senators grilled the former PIDEA agent, Jonathan Morales.
00:34Senators questioned not just the information he has, but also his credibility.
00:40Educate me, how was the name of the president mentioned, the name of Marcel Soriano, and
00:47other personalities?
00:48Your Honor, this is the confidential informant that I obtained a statement, and this...
00:54Who is this confidential informant?
00:56I don't remember, Your Honor.
00:58Son of a grandmother.
01:00You know, Morales, you're mentioning the names of personalities, the last name of the president,
01:10the last name of various famous artists, but you have no evidence.
01:14Your Honor...
01:16What you're saying is from the informant.
01:18Your Honor...
01:20Can you just let me finish?
01:22What you're saying is from the informant.
01:26Now, you're answering me, you don't remember who your informant is?
01:32Huh?
01:34Am I correct? You don't remember?
01:36Your Honor...
01:38You're just lying.
01:39This person has been charged with violation of Article 180 of the revised penal code,
01:45which is still pending before the Metropolitan Trial Court, Branch 4 in San Fernando, Pampanga.
01:51Violation of Article 180 of the revised penal code is a false testimony.
02:01Estrada asked Morales for documents, but it seems like Morales could not produce the documents,
02:07let alone satisfy the senator.
02:09And when it was Pidea's turn for questioning...
02:12Pidea, do you have the names of Marcel Soriano and Presidente Marcos?
02:18Your Honor, in the pre-operations report, there is no such name.
02:21In the drug list?
02:22There is no name of the President, Your Honor.
02:25Marcel Soriano?
02:26No name, Your Honor.
02:27Because of the latest development during the hearing,
02:30even Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri expressed doubts on the claims.
02:35My position is, while I was monitoring earlier,
02:39they did not show any new evidence,
02:43if they are just saying it's a document,
02:46it's not from him, it's from another informant,
02:49who does not have a name,
02:51then we have nothing.
02:53How is that? It's not first-hand information.
02:56Let us try to avoid making these hearings into a political circus,
02:59or for a political witch hunt.
03:02It's a false, polluted source.
03:05As far as I'm concerned, I've already established that the President is not involved.
03:11The President is not included in the drug list.
03:15And even Maricel Soriano,
03:18not because the President is my colleague,
03:21we'll just base it on facts.
03:25Actress Maricel Soriano, who happens to be linked with the issue,
03:29also attended the hearing and stated her side.
03:32You know, this is my first time
03:35receiving an invitation to speak in front of the Senate.
03:38I'm nervous and scared.
03:41First of all, I don't know about the documents.
03:45I only found out when they showed them to me.
03:48Because I don't read such things.
03:52I don't know anything.
03:55The Senate is expected to continue its hearings.
03:58Daniel Maranastas from the National TV Network,
04:01for a new and better Philippines.