LIES. The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs cites former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agent Jonathan Morales (in photo) in contempt for "continuously lying" before the panel on May 20. 2024. The Department of Justice on Thursday (Aug. 8) reported that Morales was convicted by a Pampanga court for the crime of perjury. (PNA file photo by Avito C. Dalan)
MANILA – A Pampanga court has found a former agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) guilty of lying under oath before a court of law, the Department of Justice (DOJ) reported Thursday.
In an 11-page decision written by Acting Presiding Judge Jason B. Alquiroz of the San Fernando, Pampanga Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch IV, former PDEA agent Jonathan Morales was sentenced to four months imprisonment and a fine of PHP1,000 after finding him guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of perjury.
Morales was the infamous witness in the "PDEA leaks" Senate investigation who tagged President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., actress Maricel Soriano, and other high-profile personalities in illegal drugs, but later turned out to have given lies and made-up stories.
The Pampanga case involved testimonies that Morales gave in 2011 while performing his functions as a PDEA agent.
According to court records, Morales “willfully and unlawfully gave false testimonies under oath” against two illegal drug suspects namely Albert Co Chua a.k.a Cai Hai Ying, and Aaron Tan a.k.a Wen Chen Miao.
After a few months, he withdrew and retracted his affidavit against the two illegal drug suspects, claiming he was under duress and only coerced by his superior, adding that his conscience could not take that someone innocent would be punished.
However, the court was unconvinced in the defense of Morales, saying "the element of duress should be based on real, imminent or reasonable fear for one's life or limb and should not be speculative, fanciful or remote fear."
The defense was unable to show even the very least that his fear for his own welfare or level of duress was real or existing, the court said.
"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," Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said in a statement.
The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs chaired by Senator Ronald Dela Rosa conducted four hearings on the so-called PDEA leaks, where current and former officials of PDEA all denied the accusations of Morales on President Marcos’ involvement in illegal drugs.
During the fourth hearing on May 20, 2024, Dela Rosa cited Morales in contempt for “continuously lying” to the panel and ordered his detention at the Senate in Pasay City.
Morales was released from Senate detention when Congress adjourned sine die on May 24. (PNA)
