Ex-PDEA agent Morales released from Senate detention

MANILA, Philippines — Jonathan Morales – the dismissed Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agent who linked President Marcos to drug use – was released from detention in time for the Senate’s session break.

Morales and a fellow detained witness, former National Police Commission staff Eric Santiago, were released from Senate custody on Thursday night, according to Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Roberto Ancan.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada visited Morales on Wednesday at his detention room before his scheduled release, based on a video released by the senator’s office.

“Pusong mamon ako (I am softhearted),” Estrada said when asked why he allowed Morales’ release.

In a statement, Estrada said he considered Morales’ health condition and age in allowing his release from Senate custody.

“Despite the seriousness of the issues that former PDEA agent Jonathan Morales is facing before the Senate – particularly his lying under oath before the committee on public order and dangerous drugs – I have decided to also give my consent to releasing him from Senate detention because of humanitarian considerations,” Estrada said.

“May this serve as a lesson for witnesses that lying before a Senate hearing is unacceptable,” he added.

It was Estrada who cited Morales in contempt for lying during Monday’s public order and dangerous drugs committee hearing on an alleged 2012 PDEA operation report that leaked on social media.

Morales was ordered detained for refusing to admit he misrepresented himself in his PDEA personal data sheet by not divulging his dismissal from the police service.

In a TikTok video shared by Estrada’s office, Morales was quoted as saying that all was well between him and Estrada after their heated exchange in the last hearing.

The STAR could not independently confirm the TikTok video of Morales’ release taken by a vlogger.

During Monday’s hearing, Morales took offense at Estrada’s questioning and brought up the senator’s pork barrel scam case, where Estrada was acquitted of plunder but convicted of bribery.

“Don’t meddle with my case. That’s my problem. Mind your own cases,” Estrada responded in Filipino.

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa’s committee is