Bato: Duterte, Marcos won't be invited in 'PDEA leaks' probe 

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa is not inclined to invite President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and former President Rodrigo Duterte in the ongoing Senate inquiry into the supposed leaked confidential Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) documents linking the incumbent chief executive to illegal drugs.

Dela Rosa said this during the second hearing on the so-called "PDEA leaks" when former PDEA intelligence officer Jonathan Morales, who said he signed the confidential documents, dared him to invite the former president to support the veracity of the illegal drug claim against Marcos.

"Alam mo, I am tempted to invite the former President Duterte per your insinuations, pero ayoko ma-politicize itong hearing natin. We may lose our objectivity here kapag papasukan na ito ng mga contending parties," Dela Rosa said.

"I, myself, being the chairman, I am identified with President Duterte, pero my God, with all honesty, I'm trying to be objective here. Kaya please please, 'wag mo munang idamay 'yung former President Duterte kung gusto mong hindi mapasukan ng political color itong ating hearing," he said.

While he is tempted to invite the former president, Dela Rosa indicated he does not want the hearing, which he said aims to prevent the disclosure of confidential information in the future, be seen by the public as something that is politically-motivated.

"Ako, in all honesty, in the interest of fairness, justice and truth, and everything, gusto ko, gusto kong imbitahan pero alam mo ang tingin ng mga tao dito, ma-politicize ang hearing natin," he said.

"So please, hindi muna tayo aabot [doon], even President Marcos na 'yung nakalagay d'yan sa pre-[operations report] ninyo ay, kung ako talaga gusto ko tatanungin natin s'ya, imbitahan natin s'ya. Gusto ko siyang imbitahan,  pero ayaw ko dahil nga mawala ‘yung objectivity ng ating hearing, maintain natin yung objectivity," he added.

Dela Rosa then appealed to the resource persons to cooperate with the Senate panel to resolve these cases of disclosure of confidential information.

It was in January when Duterte called Marcos "bangag" (high on illegal drugs) during a prayer rally in Davao City.

Duterte claimed that Marcos was on PDEA's watchlist-- a claim that was repeatedly denied by the agency.

Marcos earlier laughed off the accusation, saying it must be the effect of fentanyl, a drug Duterte has admitted to taking during his term as president.

He also laughed and just walked away when asked about the ongoing Senate investigation on the supposed leaked documents linking him to illegal drugs.—AOL, GMA Integrated News