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Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) former Deputy Director-General for Operations Carlos Gadapan failed to provide documentary evidence to support his corruption allegations against the agency.
At the same time, Senate Majority Leader Tito Sotto admitted his disappointment with Gadapan, who failed to give clear answers to Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s questioning during a Senate panel hearing on Monday.
“He failed to explain and back up his allegations with evidence. We were expecting he will come up with documents but he did not,” Sotto said.
“But on a bright side, this is a welcome development at least in my opinion since it absorbed the negative image of PDEA right now,” he explained.
Sotto and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago agreed Gadapan should have simply accepted his fate when Malacanang dismissed him due to “loss of confidence” on September 11.
Gadapan immediately came up with revelations involving alleged irregularities within PDEA, which includes PDEA chief Jose Gutierrez’ wife's supposed gambling problem.
It was Sotto who called for a Senate inquiry in a bid to strengthen PDEA.
In its first hearing at the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs on Monday, Santiago said Gadapan had no right to question his dismissal as a presidential appointee.
Insisting he “only serves at the pleasure of the president,” Santiago also noted that Gadapan lacked the eligibility requirement to stay on the position.
Santiago then questioned Gadapan’s motive in accusing Gutierrez’s wife of being a casino addict when he was also caught on tape playing inside a casino.
Gadapan justified he was seen at the casino doing an operation as an undercover agen but denied using PDEA money.
“But there’s also the charge that he was initially working for a private bank, and he was removed for habitual gambling. So it looks like there’s a pot here calling the kettle black,” Santiago told reporters.
“And we haven’t even heard from the kettle yet,” she added.
For his part, panel chair Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan said Gadapan should have sought a different venue to air his grievances instead of going on a media blitz.
He noted however initial probe found glaring lapses that need improvement in order to ensure the effectiveness of the Dangerous Drugs Acts of 2002.
The Philippines vowed Thursday to fight China "to the last man standing", as a Chinese warship patrolled around a remote reef occupied by a handful of Filipino marines in disputed waters.
