Senate panel to prioritize probe on 'PDEA leaks,' Batangas drug haul

Investigations into the supposed leak of confidential information from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the reported big drug haul in Batangas will be prioritized once the Senate resumes session next week, Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said Friday.

The chairman of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, indicated this when asked in a phone interview about the priorities of the Senate once it resumes sessions.

"Sa committee hearings, ‘yung mga PDEA leaks, ‘yung mga nag-leak na mga classified documents sa PDEA, pati na rin ‘yung, hihingi tayo ng update sa latest shabu haul sa Batangas," Dela Rosa said.

(We will prioritize the hearing on leaked PDEA documents and we'll also get an update on the latest shabu haul in Batangas.)

The initial report on the drug operation indicated that the seized shabu was estimated to be over two tons in weight, with a value of over P13.3 billion.

Dela Rosa, as chairman of the Senate special committee on Marawi Rehabilitation and Victims' Compensation, will also meet with their House counterparts to conduct a hearing on the updates on the issue.

Apart from this, Dela Rosa reiterated that the bill making the Reserve Officers' Training Corps mandatory would be prioritized in their plenary sessions as committed by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

The Mandatory ROTC Bill (Senate Bill 2034), a priority measure of the Marcos Administration, is currently on second reading in the Senate.

The last interpellation on Senate Bill 2034 was held last September 25, 2023.

Dela Rosa expressed hope that the Mandatory ROTC Bill would be passed in the chamber before the next State of the Nation Address. —VAL, GMA Integrated News