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PDEA witness guilty of perjury
By J.Lo
“Superior officer allegedly employing duress, force, intimidation or threat was not even present when accused subscribed Affidavit before State Prosecutor,” San Fernando court said Jonathan Morales, former agent of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) who linked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to illegal drugs, has been found guilty of perjury for giving false testimony.
In 11-page decision promulgated on August 7, San Fernando Municipal Trial Court Branch IV found former PDEA agent guilty beyond reasonable doubt of crime of perjury for lying under oath before court law in 2011.
In June and September of 2011, Morales provided false testimonies before San Fernando City Regional Trial Court Branch 43 against two Chinese nationals suspected of drug trafficking.
He claimed that foreign nationals were selling, transporting and delivering illegal drugs.
Morales, recanted his statements, saying that he was “under duress”. He claimed that his superior, PDEA Director Lyndon Aspacio, forced him to testify against Chinese nationals.
PDEA agent claimed he gave his testimony for fear of getting fired or prosecuted if he would not comply with alleged orders.
However, court was not convinced that Morales was intimidated by Aspacio.
Citing rulings from Supreme Court, municipal trial court said for duress could be exempt from criminal liability if it is based on “real and imminent fear” which is not present.
“Additionally, fear of being transferred to ‘dangerous assignments’ such as in Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi is rather speculative, if not discriminatory and unwarranted,” it stressed.
Morales also claimed to have signed alleged leaked PDEA pre-operation report in 2012, purportedly connected Marcos, actress Maricel Soriano and high-profile personalities to illegal drugs and drug use.
PDEA agent was cited in contempt for lying about his personal data sheet and was detained in Senate detention facility on May 20, 2024. He was released on May 25 for “humanitarian considerations.”
In statement, Department of Justice said PDEA agent “was not able to show even very least that his fear for his own welfare or level of duress was real or existing.”
“May this serve as reminder to everyone that court of law was founded by truth and justice where lies and falsehood have no place as it erodes credibility of our government in dealing with its affairs,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said in statement.
Morales will face four months of imprisonment with fine of P1,000 and subsidiary imprisonment in case of “insolvency” following San Fernando court’s ruling.
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