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.

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