In a recent public hearing held by the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, veteran actress Maricel Soriano denied any involvement in the leaked Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) documents that allegedly linked her to illegal drugs, along with former President Marcos.
Senator Ronald dela Rosa questioned Soriano about the documents that were exposed by a vlogger and circulated online. Soriano, clad in a white dress, expressed her lack of knowledge about the documents and stated that she only became aware of them when they were presented to her.
During the hearing, Dela Rosa inquired about a specific property linked to Soriano, which she confirmed owning until 2012 when she sold it. The senator also asked about news reports from 2011 alleging that Soriano’s former household workers accused her of serious physical injury and drug use.
Despite the tense atmosphere during the hearing, Dela Rosa later stated that he sensed Soriano’s nervousness and decided not to pursue further questioning. The former PDEA agent Jonathan Morales claimed to have received information about drug use but could not recall the identity of the informant, prompting questions about the credibility of the information provided.
In a separate statement during the same hearing, Dela Rosa dismissed allegations of former President Marcos’ drug use as “very far from being proven.” He emphasized that the information was sourced from a confidential agent and cautioned against jumping to conclusions based on unverified claims.
Dela Rosa clarified that his committee needed more evidence before concluding the probe, highlighting the complex nature of the investigation. He addressed concerns about potential biases in the process and underscored his commitment to objective inquiry, despite criticism from various quarters.
