Bato wants to subpoena ex-ES Ochoa to appear at alleged PDEA leaks hearing

The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs on Monday warned a subpoena may be served against former Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa over his repeated non-appearances at the legislative hearing into the supposed leak of confidential information from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Ochoa was invited to be asked about the accusations that he stopped a PDEA operation in a condo unit in Makati in 2012, where politicians and celebrities were supposedly using illegal drugs. 

However, the former official submitted a medical certificate, saying he could not attend the hearing after testing positive for COVID-19.

“I am giving Attorney Paquito Ochoa one week to recover from COVID,” said Senator Ronald dela Rosa, committee chairperson, in Mav Gonzales’ report on “24 Oras” Monday.

“We already sent  two invitations. This time we issue a subpoena. Kung di pa rin siya mag-attend, baka warrant of arrest will be issued kung di siya magpakita,” dela Rosa said. 

(We already sent two invitations. This time we issue a subpoena. If he won’t attend, we might issue a warrant of arrest.)

The senator added: “Mahirap yung iniiwasan tayo. Kung nandito si Paquito Ochoa I could’ve adjourned this hearing pero mahirap yung hanging tayo. Kailangan humarap siya sa ating committee”.

(It’s difficult because he kept on evading us. If he was here then  I could’ve adjourned this hearing.)

PDEA earlier insisted that the supposed pre-operation report and authority to operate which Morales claimed to have processed himself are non-existent.

The PDEA pre-operation report dated March 11, 2012 indicated that "a group of showbiz and politically affluent personalities are frequently using illegal drugs" inside a condominium in Makati City.

It claimed that Marcos and actress Maricel Soriano were linked to illegal drugs.

Also during the hearing, Senator Jinggoy Estrada and former PDEA intelligence officer Jonathan Morales on Monday had a heated verbal exchange after the legislator questioned the latter’s credibility. 

“If we continue to listen to all his alibis and all the lies imagination, mawawala kredibilidad ng hearing na ito. Paniniwalaan natin na marami palang kaso,” said Estrada. 

(If we continue to listen to all his alibis and all the lies imagination, we’ll lose the credibility of this hearing.)

To which Morales answered: “Hindi naman po maganda ung sinasabi ni Senator Jinggoy Estrada patungkol sa akin, para namang ako ay nahuhusgahan. Ako ay may kaso pa lang. hindi pa napapatunayan, hindi gaya ng ating butihing senador na convicted na, ay wag naman po ganon”.

(Senator Estrada sounds like he was already judging me when I am just accused. Unlike him, I was not convicted.)

Estrada fumed and told the ex-PDEA official not to meddle with his case.

Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri also joined the legislative inquiry and reminded the senators not to allow “some groups” to use the committee hearings for “politicking”.

“Hindi pwedeng sabi-sabi lang. Pinapaalala natin ang halaga ng mapagkakatiwalaang resources. Walang chismis, walang pulitika, katotohanan lang. Para hindi po tayo nagagamit ng ilang grupo sa pamumultika,” said Zubiri. 

(We would just like to remind everyone that we should present evidence from credible resources. We should not allow some groups to use us for politicking.)

Meanwhile, drug examiners of St. Luke's Medical Center Global City also testified that the cocaine test taken by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in November 2021 indeed yielded negative results. — Sundy Locus/BM, GMA Integrated News