Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 11) – The Department of Justice (DOJ) will file criminal charges against drug suspect Jad Dera and six National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) security personnel over his trip outside his detention facility.
In a resolution dated July 6, the DOJ said Dera along with five NBI personnel will face criminal charges for violating Article 156 of the Revised Penal Code relating to the delivery of prisoners from jail, while another security officer will be charged for violation of Article 223, or infidelity in the custody of prisoners.
According to the DOJ, the NBI personnel escorted Dera outside the detention facility using an NBI vehicle without any court order or authorization for his medical check-up.
It was revealed that they met with Dera’s female friend and dined in a restaurant in Makati City. Upon his arrest, authorities seized over ₱100,000 in cash from Dera and up to ₱11,000 in cash each from two NBI personnel, the alleged payment for escorting the drug suspect from his detention facility.
WATCH: Jad Dera admits sneaking out of NBI detention facility multiple times
The DOJ said the prosecutor found probable cause in finding that Dera persuaded the NBI officers to help him “escape” the detention facility, which the latter facilitated.
Dera’s lawyer Raymund Palad, meanwhile, said the DOJ’s recent resolution validated their previous stance that there is no substantiated evidence of bribery allegedly made by his client.
“It is imperative to highlight that no indications of Dera eluding the jail facility have been brought forward,” he said in a statement.
Palad added that dining outside the detention facility cannot be equated to an “escape.”
CNN Philippines Senior Correspondent Anjo Alimario contributed to this report.
