Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The testimony of a former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agent linking President Marcos to illegal drugs is part of an alleged larger effort to destabilize the current administration. 

Thus, said House Deputy Majority Leader Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, who in a press conference Thursday, May 2 expressed utter bewilderment over why this PDEA agent in question, Jonathan Morales, was suddenly made part of a Senate inquiry being led by Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa. 

"Katulad niyo medyo naguguluhan din ako...naguguluhan din ako bakit biglang naipasok si Morales doon sa usapin na alam naman natin na ang pinaka layunin nung hearing sana 'yun ay mabigyan linaw ukol dun sa mga nakuha nilang illegal drugs sa Batangas," Acidre said. 

(Like you, I'm also confused...I'm confused as to why Morales was included in the issue, knowing that the goal of the hearing was supposedly to give clarity to seized illegal drugs in Batangas.) 

"I think it becomes even more clear now na ito mga pangyayaring ito ay kaparte ng isang mas malaki pang effort to discredit and desabilize the current administration," he said. 

(I think it becomes even more clear now that this development is part of the larger effort to discredit and desabilize the current administration.) 

Dela chairs the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs. He is a close ally of former president Rodrigo Duterte, a critic of the Marcos administration. 

Duterte has accused President Marcos of drug use in the past. 

During a recent hearing of the Dela Rosa panel, Morales provided testimony regarding the purported "authenticity" of leaked 2012 documents allegedly implicating then-Senator Marcos and actress Maricel Soriano in illegal drug use. 

However, PDEA Director General Moro Virgilio Lazo strongly refuted Morales' claims, and asserted that the documents in question, including a supposed pre-operation report and authority to operate, were non-existent. 

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Lazo categorically stated that Morales' allegations were "fabricated" and had "no basis", and emphasized that the Senate panel should not rely on testimony from an individual who had previously committed perjury by concealing his dismissal from the Philippine National Police (PNP) when he applied for a job at PDEA. 

Acidre agreed with Lazo, and said: "Pinapakita siguro based on the testimony na talagang mas na-prove pa natin na itong si Morales eh nagsisinungaling.” 

(The testimony makes it appear, and really proves further, that Morales is lying.) 

The deputy majority leader further reckoned  that the testimony of someone with a "shady past" like Morales won't be enough to refute Lazo's statements. 

Duterte, who was president from 2016 to 2022, had earlier been told by Assistant Majority Leader Zambales 1st district Rep. Jay Khonghun to "stop destabilizing" the current administration.