TWO members of the House of Representatives have expressed disappointment over the way Sen. Bato dela Rosa is handling the Senate inquiry on the alleged “PDEA leaks,” saying that the institution is losing credibility as the investigation drags on without an iota of evidence being presented.

Ako Bikol Party-list Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong both said that the Senate, as an institution, is the one that suffers in the hearings of the Senate Committee on Public Order on the allegations of dismissed PDEA agent Jonathan Morales against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

“Personally, I am very disappointed with the way Sen. Bato dela Rosa conducted the hearing. Why? What we have is a witness (Morales) who is a pathological liar, who perjured himself, who is facing a case of false testimony in Pampanga, who is facing a case in Pasig for falsification if I’m not mistaken slight physical injuries,” Bongalon said.

“So, what is at stake here? Credibility – the quality of the legislative inquiry that the Senate is conducting,” he added.

As chairman of the Senate committee, Bongalon said Dela Rosa should know better than to entertain the testimony of a polluted resource person, who has been dismissed from PDEA because of dishonesty and misconduct.

“What we have is a chairman who is a former Philippine National Police chief, having served the PNP for several years. Having said that, we expect him to be well-versed and knowledgeable, especially in rules and evidence and investigation,” Bongalon said.

“So siguro ito na po ang eye opener kay Senator Bato, na sana pakinggan nya din ang kanyang mga kasamahan. Wala hong kredibilidad yung testigo na nagsasalita po sa komite. In other words, itigil nyo na po ang imbestigasyon sapagkat wala naman po itong patutunguhan at wala naman pong napapala ang taongbayan dito,” he said.

Adiong echoed the sentiments of Bongalon, saying the Senate itself is losing its integrity because of what is happening in the Senate hearings of Sen. Dela Rosa.

“As it develops, the Senate is losing its integrity and nada-drag po yung reputasyon ng ating Senado to the point that the public now is questioning the Senate. What is really your motive? Kasi sa nakikita ko, wala hong patutunguhan itong investigation na to other than smear campaign,” Adiong said.

“And to point out and target individuals that were allegedly mentioned in the document, and they cannot even provide the document and they cannot even verify whether that document is authentic or not. So, the objective really is in question because the motive, to me personally, the motive is not to enlighten the public, not to revisit any existing laws and improve them but a smear campaign,” he added.

Adiong stated that the Senate hearing is a farce and is clearly politically motivated.

“It is a political motivated targeting this administration’s downfall at hindi po mangyayari yan. Sabihin ko na po sa inyo, the public is now asking, the committee hearing is in question,” he said.

And I hope that the Senate will really realize na kami po sa House of Representatives, they are our friends and they are our partner because dalawa po ang chamber ng Congress. Please protect the reputation of the Senate,” he added.

“Protect it kasi people are now starting to question the reputation of the institutions.”