A high-profile detainee and six National Bureau of Investigation security personnel have been arrested by law enforcement authorities while outside the NBI detention facility.
The Department of Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano identified the suspect as Jose Adrian Dera, alias “Jad,” who is detained for drug and murder charges.
“He (Dera) has several cases related to drugs. One of which he is a co-accused in the case of former Senator (Leila) De Lima. There are also certain cases where he alone is charged,” Clavano said during a public briefing.
“This would not have happened if there was no connivance. We are hellbent on making heads roll for this incident. This is unacceptable.”
“They are there now under custody of the NBI agents and they would be brought for inquest at any time within today or tomorrow (June 22). We are looking at all the possible cases to be filed,” he added.
Dera and his cohorts were apprehended late Tuesday evening while returning to the detention facility after they allegedly went outside to eat at a hotel in Makati City.
Illegal firearms, cash, and other contraband were also seized by responding authorities, the DOJ said.
There were also reports of Dera having links to suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves.
Dera’s camp denied the allegations of him bribing the jail guards and his alleged ties with Teves as his “bagman.”
Dera’s lawyer Raymund Palad insisted his client was outside due to medical reasons and was escorted by NBI personnel.
“I asked him, ‘Ano ba talaga nangyari?’ He said galing sila sa labas, kabababa lang nila sa isang NBI marked vehicle,” Palad said.
Palad said the arrest was made inside the NBI compound.
He also challenged reports that Dera was carrying P25-million for the suspects in the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo.
“Nung una pamangkin daw sya ni De Lima. Ngayon naman bagman ni Cong. Teves. Hindi totoo yon (First they said he was a nephew of De Lima. Now he is the bagman of Cong. Teves. That is not true),” Palad said.
Teves’ lawyer Ferdinand Topacio also disputed the allegation.
“Very clumsy attempt to again falsely implicate Cong. Teves. Ang sasabihin ko lang sa kung sinuman gumawa n’yan, try harder, try better,” Topacio said in an interview.
Meanwhile, the NBI said it will not condone the acts of its personnel and assured the public that charges will be filed against those connected to the incident.
“The NBI assures the public that our organization will not condone acts of betrayal of public trust. The Chief of Security Management Section was already relieved from his post pending investigation of the case,” the bureau said in a statement.
“Rest assured that the tasked investigators will thoroughly look into the bottom of the incident, including the possible involvement of other personalities, and will immediately file the appropriate criminal and administrative cases,” it added.