NBI staff connivance seen in detainees leaving, returning to jail —DOJ

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday said it sees a connivance in the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that allows inmates to go in and out of the facility.

“There is this connivance between certain people in detention and those in the NBI that allows for them to temporarily go out of the detention center and come back in,” Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano said in an ambush interview.

Clavano issued the remark after he confirmed that inmate Jad Dera left the NBI detention facility on Tuesday night.

“Well, I can confirm the statement only as to the part na si Jad Dera ay lumabas sa detention center kasama ang mga NBI na, they’re not agents eh, but they are security officers,” he said.

According to Clavano, Dera was with six security officers, five of whom were working on job orders and one in a plantilla position.

Dera was then arrested when he returned to the facility at midnight.

According to Clavano, the Justice Department received confidential information about Dera’s whereabouts, prompting them to inform the NBI that he was not in the detention center.

“That prompted the NBI to create a task force at inabangan doon sa mismong gate ng NBI. At around midnight, pumasok po ‘yung van na ‘yun, pinara ng mga NBI agents, at doon nahanap si Jad Dera at ‘yung mga escorts niya,” he said.

The Justice spokesperson said the DOJ must investigate how Dera was able to leave the jail facility.

Clavano said the NBI agents retrieved “some firearms, cash, and other contraband.”

Medical concerns

In a separate Zoom interview, Raymund Palad, Dera’s legal counsel said his client told him he went out due to medical concerns at around 8 p.m. with “official escorts” and on a “marked vehicle.”

“According to him, nagpunta sila, naghahanap ng doctor dahil masama ‘yung pakiramdam ng tao. They left around past 8 p.m. and then went back past 12,” Palad said.

Palad, however, said Dera did not detail his medical concern.

Citing Dera’s wife, Palad said his client had been brought to a hospital due to heart palpitations and was subjected to various medical tests.

Inquest

Meanwhile, Clavano said they are “hellbent on making heads roll” over what happened.

“This is unacceptable and we will file the necessary disciplinary actions and any other cases that this case may warrant,” he said.

Clavano said Dera and the security officers will be brought for inquest at any time on Wednesday or Thursday.

“We’re looking at all the possible cases to be filed. It will depend on their statements, on the affidavits that they will execute. Kung ano talaga ‘yung pwedeng makasuhan,” he said.

He added that they are looking into filing for possible violation of Article 126 of the Revised Penal Code as well as bribery and corruption.

The NBI said the chief of the Security Management Section has been relieved while the incident is being investigated.

“The NBI assures the public that our organization will not condone acts of betrayal of public trust,” the NBI said in a statement to reporters.

“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.

Teves bagman

Meanwhile, Palad denied allegations that Dera is the alleged bagman of suspended Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr., one of the alleged masterminds in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.

“Actually wala akong idea sa armas, sa cellphone… wala siyang binabanggit na armas, na pera. ‘Yung lumalabas sa mga tweet na P25 million, hindi totoo ‘yun. ‘Yung lumalabas na bagman siya ni Congressman Teves, hindi din totoo ‘yun definitely,” he said.

Clavano said the DOJ also has no information on this allegation.

“As to whether or not he’s the bagman of Congressman Teves, there’s absolutely no ano ‘yan credibility to the information that I have received,” he said.

Dera acquitted

During the interview, Palad also announced that Dera was acquitted of illegal drug trading charges at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 204.

“We had a hearing kanina ng umaga. Nandoon si Jad Dera. May escort ulit ng NBI and he attended the hearing. And the good news is that kanina, na-acquit na rin siya sa kasong illegal drug trading na dati niyang kasama si Senator De Lima," he said.

According to Palad, Dera and his family were initially happy upon being acquitted but were disheartened after discovering that he was being linked to the Degamo case.

“Suddenly ‘yung saya na ‘yun natakpan ng kalungkutan nung nabasa namin ‘yung tweet. Kasi all the while ang alam niya maliit na issue lang ‘yun but then there was this tweet from a journalist na ikinonekta kami sa Degamo,” he said.

Despite this, Palad said they would not file a complaint against the NBI.

“As to the filing of case against the NBI, definitely we don’t do that. Kasi ‘yung mga agents naman natin, they’re just doing their jobs, following ‘yung orders. Sasagutin lang namin kung ano ‘yung demanda na isasampa,” he said.—LDF, GMA Integrated News