‘PDEA leaks’ witness found guilty of perjury

MANILA, Philippines — Jonathan Morales, the former agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) who linked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to illegal drugs, has been found guilty of perjury for giving a false testimony.

In an 11-page decision promulgated on August 7, the San Fernando Municipal Trial Court Branch IV found the former PDEA agent guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of perjury for lying under oath before a court law in 2011.

In June and September of 2011, Morales provided false testimonies before the San Fernando City Regional Trial Court Branch 43 against two Chinese nationals suspected of drug trafficking.

He claimed that the foreign nationals were selling, transporting and delivering illegal drugs.

Morales, however, recanted his statements, saying that he was "under duress". He claimed that his superior, PDEA Director Lyndon Aspacio, forced him to testify against the Chinese nationals.

The PDEA agent claimed that he gave his testimony for fear of getting fired or prosecuted if he would not comply with the alleged orders.

However, the court said that it was not convinced that Morales was intimidated by Aspacio.

Citing rulings from the Supreme Court, the municipal trial court said that for duress could be exempt from criminal liability if it is based on "real and imminent fear" which is not present.

"The superior officer allegedly employing duress, force, intimidation or threat was not even present when the accused subscribed the Affidavit before the State Prosecutor," San Fernando court said.

"Additionally, the fear of being transferred to 'dangerous assignments' such as in Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi is rather speculative, if not discriminatory and unwarranted," it added.

Morales also claimed to have signed the alleged leaked PDEA pre-operation report in 2012, which purportedly connected Marcos, actress Maricel Soriano and high-profile personalities to illegal drugs and drug use.

The PDEA agent was cited in contempt for lying about his personal data sheet and was detained in the Senate detention facility on May 20, 2024. He was released on May 25 for "humanitarian considerations."

In a statement, the Department of Justice said that