De Lima's co-accused admits sneaking out of NBI facility several times
High-profile detainee Jose Adrian “Jad” Dera on Wednesday, July 5, admitted to senators that he was able to leave his detention cell at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) several times.
Dera is facing charges of violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and has been detained at the NBI since 2019. He is a co-accused of former senator Leila de Lima in her remaining drug case.
During the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights hearing on the issue, Dera confirmed the irregularity and said that only one of those trips had a court order.
The only trip that was authorized by the court was when he left the NBI facility on January 20, 2022 for a medical check-up in a hospital in Manila.
He was able to leave the second time to go out for another medical check-up, but this time, with no court approval.
According to Dera, he was also able to leave the NBI during Father’s Day this year and on June 20 reportedly for a date. This was when he and five other NBI jail guards were nabbed.
But when asked by Sen. Francis Tolentino, chairman of the Senate justice panel, Dera confirmed he was also able to go to Calatagan, Batangas but could not recall the exact date. He also admitted going to Tagyatay City also with NBI personnel. The roadtrip to Tagaytay, he said, happened around March.
But contrary to some reports, Dera denied having gone to Subic.
Tolentino expressed his disappointment with the NBI, saying the irregularity might not have stopped if it wasn’t reported by the media.
NBI Diector Medardo de Lemos told senators during the hearing he wasn’t informed about Dera’s “escape” up until he and his cohorts were arrested.
In a statement, Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada said “heads should indeed roll”in light of this incident.
“I understand that both the chief security and the head of the NBI detention facility have already been suspended due to the incident and criminal charges have already been filed against the six security personnel,” Estrada said.
“I will leave it to the DOJ to decide whether a mere reshuffling of NBI personnel would suffice after going after those involved in the incident or a more severe action should be taken. But definitely, heads should roll,” he reiterated.