Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 21) — A co-accused in the drug case of former Senator Leila de Lima was caught outside the detention center at the headquarters of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), prompting the Department of Justice (DOJ) to warn those responsible would be held liable for the incident.
DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano confirmed Jad Dera was caught together with five NBI security offers and one plantilla aboard a van at midnight outside the NBI compound.
Clavano said they received “confidential information” on the whereabouts of Dera who was out of his detention facility
“This prompted us to inform the NBI that he was not in his detention center. And that prompted the NBI to create a task force at inabangan sa mismong gate ng NBI,” he said. “At around midnight, pumasok yung van na yon, pinara ng mga agents and don nahanap si Jad Dera at yung mga escorts niya.”
[Translation: This prompted us to inform the NBI that he was not in his detention center. And that prompted the NBI to create a task force who waited at the gate of the NBI. At around midnight, the van came in and was stopped by the agents, and this was where Jad Dera was found along with his escorts.]He added it was clear there was connivance between NBI personnel and detainees.
“I just want to emphasize na itong pangyayari na ito [that this incident] has revealed that there is this connivance between certain people in detention and those in the NBI that allow for them to temporarily go out of the detention center and come back in so this would not have happened if there was no connivance,” Clavano said.
We are hell bent on making heads roll for this incident. This is unacceptable and we will file the necessary disciplinary actions and any other cases that this may warrant,” he added.Clavano said the investigation will see just who is responsible, and how high up the chain of command they go. He said money was obviously involved.Taken from Dera was money inside a bag, along with a cellphone and arms.According to Dera’s lawyer, his client was returning to the detention facility when he was arrested.
“They came from, according to him nagpunta sila, naghahanap ng doctor dahil masama yung pakiramdam ng tao. They left around past 8 p.m. then went back past 12 pagbaba nila ng NBI marked vehicle. Paglakad nila pabalik sa that’s the time they were arrested,” said Raymund Palad.
[Translation: They came from, according to him they went to find a doctor because he wasn’t feeling well. They left around past 8 p.m. then went back past 12 where they came down from the NBI marked vehicle. They were walking back and that’s the time they were arrested.]In a statement, the NBI said they would not condone acts of betrayal of public trust.The Chief of the Security Management Section was already relieved from his post pending investigation of the case,” the statement said.The NBI also gave its assurance investigators would look into the incident thoroughly and file appropriate criminal and administrative cases.Clavano also said they could not confirm whether Dera was the bagman of Negros Oriental Rep. Arnie Teves. Palad claimed there is no connection between the two.
