A dismissed Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agent -- who linked President Marcos, actress Maricel Soriano, and other high profile personalities to illegal drugs which were later found baseless -- has been convicted of perjury for lying under oath before a trial court.
Convicted by the San Fernando City Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) was former PDEA agent Jonathan A. Morales. He was ordered imprisoned for four months and a fine of P1,000 with imprisonment in case of insolvency for violation of Article 180 of the Revised Penal Code.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said in a statement: "May this serve as a reminder to everyone that the court of law was founded by truth and justice where lies and falsehood have no place as it erodes the credibility of our government in dealing with its affairs."
Early this year, Morales faced legislative inquiry for claiming to have signed the leaked PDEA pre-operation report in 2012 which linked then senator and now President Marcos and actress Maricel Soriano to illegal drugs.
Morales was dismissed from service due to the false testimonies he made in an Illegal drugs case against Albert Co Chua and Wen Chen Miao before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 43 in San Fernando City, Pampanga.
In his decision, MTCC Judge Jason B. Alquiroz said the false testimonies made by Morales before the RTC led to the acquittal of Chua and Miao.
Chua and Miao were arrested on May 3, 2010 during an anti-illegal drugs buy-bust operations that Morales led in San Fernando City.
However, during the trial of Chua and Miao before San Fernando City RTC, Judge Alquiroz noted that during cross-examination conducted on Nov. 7, 2012 “Morales recanted his previous testimonies and alleged that the buy-bust operation was not legitimate.”
Alquiroz added that Morales “further testified that Chua and Miao were victims of planting of evidence orchestrated by Director [Lyndon] Aspacio, his superior.”
Judge Alquiroz did not accept the defense of Morales that the former agent's testimonies against Chua and Miao were made under duress due to threats of being transferred to dangerous assignments in Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
“Here, we found no evidence to support accused’s claim that he was forced and intimidated by Director Lyndon Aspacio to execute the affidavit and to testify in court based thereon,” said Alquiroz.
The judge also pointed out that “the superior officer allegedly employing duress, force, intimidation or threat was not even present when accused subscribed the Affidavit before the State Prosecutor.”
“Additionally, the fear of being transferred to ‘dangerous assignments’ such as in Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi is rather speculative, if not discriminatory and unwarranted,” he added.