A top official from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) firmly stated that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s name has never appeared in their records related to illegal drug activities.
The clarification came during a Senate hearing on Monday, addressing the controversial “PDEA leaks” that had circulated online.
PDEA Debunks Viral Drug Allegations
Key Points:
- PDEA Legal and Prosecution Service Acting Director Francis Del Valle testified that “Bongbong Marcos alias Bonget” was never in their databases.
- This refers to a 2012 report that allegedly linked Marcos to drug operations, which went viral on social media.
- Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, committee chair, said he never saw such documents during his time as PNP chief.
“Purely Fabricated” Documents
Representing the anti-narcotics agency, Del Valle categorically denied that Marcos had ever been included in PDEA’s drug watchlists or subjected to any operations targeting illegal drug activities.
“He has never been included in the drug list or has been subject to any negation operation,” the official stated.
The leaked documents purporting to implicate the President had raised concerns due to apparent inconsistencies. Del Valle reiterated PDEA’s stance that the materials were “purely fabricated,” lacking proper control numbers and marred by redactions uncharacteristic of the agency’s protocols.
Senate Panel Probes PDEA Leaks
Senator Dela Rosa, who previously led the Philippine National Police, corroborated that he had not encountered any such reports linking Marcos to illegal drugs during his tenure as chief.
“Honestly speaking, I never saw any [information about that],”
he remarked.
The Senate panel is investigating the source and motives behind the leaked PDEA materials, which generated controversy after circulating online earlier this year.
Both PDEA and Dela Rosa insisted on the need to validate information from official channels to avoid spreading misinformation.
Agency Stance Remains Firm
While the issue remains contentious, PDEA has firmly denied any record of the President’s involvement in illegal drug operations based on their official databases and procedures.
Sources: THX News & Philippine News Agency.
