Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief turned politician, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said on Wednesday, May 1 he was certain that the documents supposedly linking President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and actress Maricel Soriano to alleged drug use was not fabricated. 

Dela Rosa was referring to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s (PDEA) Authority to Operate and Pre-Operation Report dated March 11, 2012, which have circulated on social media and by United States -based vlogger Claire Contreras who goes by the name “Maharlika.”

PDEA Director General Moro Virgilio Lazo had insisted, during a Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs hearing last Tuesday, April 30, that the supposed documents were non-existent.

“Based on my impression, that paper is existing. Because the nature of the paper, when I looked at it, was clear. It was not AI-generated (artificial intelligence). It’s not fabricated because the photocopy was clear, and you can see the punch holes where the paper fastener went through,” Dela Rosa said in Filipino, in an interview on Radio 630. 

“So I believe that that paper is existing. The preparation report and that authority to conduct operation,” he further said.

Dela Rosa also said he can vouch for the PDEA’s admission that the vehicles indicated in the document were legitimate and that these were owned by the agency. 

“But the PDEA is denying it, as far as they are concerned, because they say it’s not in their files. It can’t be seen in their files. I took their words—both sides—both are saying the truth. Because it may really be possible that the paper may not be in their files,” he said. 

During the hearing, PDEA investigating agent Jonathan Morales had insisted on the “authenticity” of the leaked documents, which Dela Rosa said he was inclined to believe, considering none of the PDEA agents can deny that Morales was indeed a member of the PDEA at that time.

“He was really part of the PDEA, he was just removed later on,” the senator said of Morales.

At the same time, Dela Rosa defended his committee’s investigation into the information saying the panel only wants to conduct a probe into the leaked documents “in aid of legislation” and not “in aid of persecution.”

“I just want to clarify that the purpose of this hearing is in aid of legislation. How we can come up with a policy to prevent this kind of leakage of classified documents. So this hearing is in aid of legislation, this is not in aid of persecution,” he pointed out.

Furthermore, the former top cop said having one’s name included in the PDEA’s pre-operation list did not mean that they were already confirmed to be drug users. 

“If your name is written there, it means you are subject for validation. Pre-operation means there is information about you using drugs. We have to observe the rights also, because that is only initial information,” he explained.