Jad Dera says unauthorized trips not linked to Degamo suspects’ recantations

High-profile detainee Jed Dera on Wednesday denied that his unauthorized trips outside the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) detention facility were connected to the recantation of the testimonies of the suspects in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.

At a Senate justice and human rights investigation, Senator Francis Tolentino referred to “unverified” reports claiming that Dera’s unauthorized trips were supposedly meant to facilitate the recantation of the testimonies of the suspects in Degamo’s case who are likewise detained at the NBI detention facility.

“May mga ulat na lumalabas na nung lumabas ka raw—although unverified pa ito—na nung lumabas ka raw sa Makati e meron kang ibang misyon, di naman kakain lang… Diumano ay isa ka sa mga nag-facilitate para bumaliktad ‘yung iba,” Tolentino said.

Tolentino said that some of the Degamo slay suspects retracted their testimonies after Father’s Day, June 18. This was one of the days Dera admitted that he left the NBI detention facility.

“Kasi nung Father’s Day—if I may ask my colleague here—pagkatapos ng Father’s Day yata nagbaliktaran ‘yung iba e. Father’s Day lumabas ka ‘di ba? ‘Yan ang tinatahing istorya ng iba. Di ko alam kaya tinatanong kita. Hindi naman kita pinagbibintangan na kasali ka raw sa pagbaliktad ng iba,” Tolentino said.

“Di ko po alam yang sinasabi po nila. Hindi po totoo,” Dera replied.

Asked if he totally denies any involvement in the suspects' recantations, Dera answered: “Yes po. Wala po akong alam d’yan. Hindi ko po alam ‘yung sinasabi nila na ‘yan.”

'Yet to be validated'

At the early part of the hearing, Dera also told the senators that he had no interaction with the Degamo slay suspects, particularly to Marvin Miranda, one of the alleged masterminds of the Negros Oriental governor’s killing.

The Department of Justice (Department of Justice) earlier ordered the NBI to look into allegations that Miranda can also leave the detention facility like Dera.

NBI Director Medardo de Lemos told the senators that Miranda has not been able to leave the NBI detention facility.

Tolentino then asked DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano if this raw intelligence report alleging Dera as the facilitator resulting in the suspects' retractions has reached their office.

In response, Clavano said: “That is one of the reports that the DOJ received regarding the purpose of Mr. Dera’s escape and return to the facility.”

Clavano confirmed to Tolentino that the information the DOJ received also alleged Dera as the one who brings in the money for the Degamo slay suspects.

“There was a certain amount that was supposedly and allegedly received by Mr. Dera outside of the facility to be brought in,” Clavano said.

He reiterated that these allegations have yet to be validated.

“I believe that we have the same source of information and these are yet to be validated, which is why we endorsed the same to the NBI and this came simultaneous with the information that he was also outside the detention facility,” Clavano said.

“The same information was endorsed right away and immediately to the NBI. However, they already have their own information as well which is why they acted as swiftly as they did to accost Mr. Dera together with the security officers and those that have job orders,” he added.

Despite Dera’s denial, Tolentino still asked NBI's De Lemos the amount of money that was seized from the detainee when he was arrested outside the detention facility in June.

Based on the inventory conducted by the raiding team, De Lemos said Dera had more or less P100,000 during the time that he was arrested.

This prompted Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to ask why Dera had a big amount of money in his possession.

Dera then revealed that he was running a store inside the NBI detention facility.

“Dala ko po yung pinagbentahan ng tindahan sa loob ng kulungan… May tindahan po don…para po sa lahat sa amin dahil wala pong rasyon,” Dera said in response to Dela Rosa.

Asked how big the store is, Dera said: “Marami pong laman, sir. May mga soft drinks po, ice cream.”

With this, Dela Rosa was convinced that Dera “wield considerable amount of power inside the NBI detention facility.”

“Ikaw pala nagpapatakbo ng negosyo diyan. Hawak mo ang negosyo sa loob,” Dela Rosa said.

Still, Dera explained that they were forced to run the store because they were not provided well inside the detention facility.

“Wala po kasing rasyon kami. Wala kaming rasyon, sir,” Dera said.

Dera is facing a charge of violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and has been detained at the NBI jail since 2019. He is one of the co-accused in the last remaining drug case against former senator Leila de Lima.

He was arrested in June outside his cell after allegedly going on a date.

Dera admitted that he was able to leave the detention facility several times. — BM, GMA Integrated News