Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The lawyer of high-profile inmate Jaybee Sebastian said they will sue Senator Leila De Lima and two other former officials before the Ombudsman.
Sebastian’s lawyer Eduardo Arriba will file criminal and administrative charges against former Justice Secretary and now Senator De Lima, former Bureau of Corrections Chief Ricardo Rainier Cruz, and former New Bilibid Prison Head Richard Schwarzkopf Jr.
Arriba said on Wednesday, the three former officials approved the transfer of Sebastian from the maximum security to building 14, which put Sebastian’s life in danger.
“Iyun ang concern. Dapat hindi na lang dinala doon (building 14). Yun ang evident bad faith na sinasabi namin o gross inexcusable negligence ng mga respondents dahil alam nilang may threats to life yet dinala pa rin doon,” Arriba said.
[Translation: That’s the concern. The should not have put him in Building 14. That’s evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence on the part of the respondents. They know there where threats to (Jaybee’s) life and yet they still put him there.]
He added, “It is as if (they were) feeding Sebastian to the lions.”
Related: Jaybee Sebastian wants out of NBP’s Building 14
Arriba arrived at the Office of the Ombudsman Wednesday afternoon for the filing of the complaint. But he was not able to do so because he lacked certain requirements, so he needs to come back Thursday to file the complaint.
The planned complaint against De Lima comes a week after the stabbing incident inside Bilibid’s Building 14.
Inmate Jaybee Sebastian, who is represented by his wife in the complaint, blames De Lima for what happened to him last September 28. He said De Lima authorized his transfer to Building 14 despite threats to his life by other high-profile inmates, as they suspected him of exposing illegal operations inside the prison.
Arriba said his client had previously requested for his transfer to the NBP’s maximum security compound, but the Justice Department and NBP supposedly ignored his requests.
The stabbing incident inside the building 14 killed high-profile inmate Tony Co. Three other inmates, including Sebastian, were injured and brought to the hospital. Sebastian and Peter Co had to undergo surgery due to the injuries they received. The hospital administrator explained the puncture wounds of the four inmates were mostly in the chest area. Sebastian remains confined in the hospital.
Related: High-profile inmate killed, 3 others hurt in Bilibid incident
Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge P/Supt. Rolando Asuncion previously said seven to eight inmates were involved in the “rumble,” adding an ice pick was recovered from the crime scene.
He denied the incident was staged to kill Sebastian.
“It’s just a plain riot. This is just a usual occurrence in prisons,” Asuncion said.
Jaybee Sebastian was identified by fellow inmates in a House probe as the top drug lord inside the Bilibid. He allegedly raised millions to fund the senatorial campaign of De Lima.
CNN Philippines correspondent AC Nicholls contributed to this report.
