PHILIPPINE Drug Enforcement Agency chief Dionisio Santiago admitted before a three-member fact-finding panel that he had no direct knowledge that prosecutors received bribe to drop charges against the ?Alabang Boys? even as a subordinate claimed an informant had confirmed the allegations.

?We have no direct evidence, no direct information that they [Justice officials] received the bribe. But the case against the suspects was dismissed so suddenly which makes us wonder why,? Santiago said, responding to a query made by panel member retired Sandiganbayan Justice Raoul Victorino.

Nonetheless, Santiago insisted that the lack of direct evidence does not necessarily mean that no bribery took place, citing a supposed bribe offer made to PDEA agents which was subsequently rejected.

The three-member panel, headed by retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Carolina Gri?o-Aquino with San Beda Graduate School of Law dean Fr. Ranhilio Aquino as another member, began hearing testimonies yesterday.

Because they were at the three-member panel?s hearing, Justice and PDEA officials were not around for the House oversight committee on dangerous drugs hearing, except for Santiago who arrived at the House of Representatives later in the afternoon.

?It?s a fact that this [committee] is a higher body. They [independent panel] should yield to this body. I might even say that this is obstructing the work of Congress,? said Para?aque Rep. Roilo Golez.

The committee?s chairman, Ilocos Norte Rep. Roque Ablan, even threatened to cite for contempt any of the invited resource persons if they fail to show up in the next hearing of the House panel.

But later, Ablan said the committee is not trying to question the authority of the independent panel, saying they merely wanted it to ?synchronize? their schedule with that of the House panel.

Both Golez and Cavite Rep. Elpido Barzaga also accused the independent body of being partial, noting that it issued summons for PDEA officials but merely an ?invitation? to Justice officials.

?These notices or subpoenas appeared to indicate a double-standard,? Golez said.

Asked what his basis for claiming there was a bribery, Santiago, speaking to reporters in a chance interview after he testified, said, ?I have no direct evidence but it was due to the series of circumstances and events.?

He also urged the Anti-Money Laundering Council to inquire into the bank accounts of the Justice officials. ?Unless AMLC opens it [the accounts], I have nothing [to provide].?

But Santiago?s subordinate, Maj. Ferdinand Marcelino, head of the PDEA Special Enforcement Services, said an informant disclosed to him that some P20 million changed hands in the Justice Department to secure the release of drug suspects Richard Brodett, Jorge Joseph and Joseph Tecson before Christmas of 2008.

Marcelino declined to identify the informant during the hearing, but said he was willing to do so privately. He said should the panel subpoena the informant, the PDEA official requested that the proceedings be held in an executive session.

Reacting to Santiago?s statement, Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zu?o reiterated that there was no bribe money paid to prosecutors, including him, when they approved the Dec. 2, 2008 resolution ordering the dismissal of the drug case and the release of the three suspects from PDEA custody. Rey E. Requejo and Roy Pelovello