By Roy Pelovello

THE cousin of one of the affluent suspects in the ?Alabang Boys? case testified yesterday that Richard Brodett not only used drugs but had also sold them when he was a teenager.

Appearing before a House panel investigating the case, Anthony Brodett said Richard had been using drugs since their early teens with the consent of his mother Myra, who he claimed was also a user.

Anthony said they decided to appear before the committee to clear their names because the Brodett name had been tainted with the arrest of his cousin Richard.

?We grew up together. We were together frequently [during our younger days], and what I personally know is that before he was 16 years old he was already using drugs,? Anthony said.

He said Richard has also taught him to take drugs.

?His parents do not do anything about it. Even his mother is also using drugs, so how can you teach your child [not to use drugs]?? Anthony said.

He said that many times when he was in Richard?s house, marijuana was ?all over the place.?

Anthony said he and his father David and mother Marissa had voluntarily appeared before the committee to dispute Richard?s parents? claim that their son was innocent.

?It appears in the news that they are portraying themselves as innocent, that Richard is an ordinary kid. But he has a record [of testing positive for drugs] in the LTO [Land Transportation Office when he applied for a driver?s license],? he said.

Anthony?s father Dave supported his son?s testimony.

?Butch [Richard?s father], I know you don?t want to see your son in this situation, but Myra?she?s the wife of Butch?seemed to be a simple person who is not doing anything bad, yet she?s the one who pushed her son to be this kind of person, to push and use,? Dave said.

?What I just want... is to clear my name and my family?s name, because my family and I can?t even get a good night?s sleep because our name has been maligned by my brothers?they did not realize they were not the only Brodetts,? he said.

Philipp Brodett is the one who reportedly called up Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor to request the implementation of a resolution dismissing the case against Richard and his companions, Joseph Tecson and Jorge Jordana Joseph, and ordering their release from the custody of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

?I am not rich. All I have is my name. I earn a living by teaching basketball and golf to kids, and who would get my services now?? Dave said.

Marissa, whom Drug Enforcement chief Dionisio Santiago said was the source of a text message alleging the agency had been bribed, refused to answer questions from the lawmakers on the subject, saying she wanted to consult with a lawyer first.

Dave denied providing the information to the agency that led to the arrest of Richard and other suspects, but Anthony said that by testifying before the committee, they could be putting their lives in danger.

Agency spokesman Derrick Carreon said Santiago had committed to provide security for Dave, Anthony and Marissa.

Also yesterday, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said if there were indeed moves to bribe the agency, the agency was duty-bound to try to entrap those offering the bribe.

On Tuesday, the chief of the agency?s enforcement service, Maj. Ferdinand Marcelino, testified that he received two P3-million bribe offers, one in a phone call from a man claiming to be Joe Tecson, and the other from his former classmate in the Philippine Military Academy.

?You should have attempted to entrap them,? Gonzalez told Marcelino.

?You could have actually arrested them when the offer was made. You were given names, you should have traced that call.?

But Marcelino said this was ?easier said than done.?

A shouting match took place when Gonzalez, referring to Marcelino?s previous assignment in Mindanao, said he should have dealt with those offering the bribes in the same way he ?corrected those people in Basilan.?

?I am not a war freak as you want to insinuate,?? Marcelino said.

Gonzalez shot back: ?I am not insinuating you are a war freak. I?m just telling you this because you are being emotional here.?

Calm was restored when both witnesses were told to address their answers to the panel.