A Senate panel on Monday cited in contempt and ordered the detention of ex-Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agent Jonathan Morales for "continuously lying" before the panel about his personal data sheet (PDS) when he was applying in the anti-drug agency. Senator Jinggoy Estrada made the motion during a Senate public order and dangerous drugs committee hearing where Morales was grilled for allegedly "misrepresenting" himself in his PDS submitted to PDEA by indicating that he was not dropped from the Philippine National Police roll and was not dismissed and suspended from service. Morales was the one who claimed to have signed the supposed “PDEA leaks” in 2012.
With no objection from other members, Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, committee chairperson, approved the motion. According to its rules, the Senate may sanction a witness or a resource person summoned for a legislative inquiry for contempt if he “disobeys any order of the Committee or refuses to be sworn or to testify or to answer a proper question by the Committee or any of its members, or testifying, testifies falsely or evasively, or who unduly refuses to appear or bring before the Committee certain documents and/or object evidence required by the Committee notwithstanding the issuance of the appropriate subpoena therefore.” The punishment, however, should be concurred by the chairperson of the investigating Senate panel and at least one member.
The contempt order may be reversed or modified within .
