(PNA file photo)
MANILA – A detainee at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was apprehended Wednesday night as he returned from a supposed night out with several NBI employees, the Department of Justice said Thursday.
Jose Adrian "Jad" Dera who claims to be an asset of the Philippine National Police (PNP) had originally been implicated in the alleged conspiracy to commit illegal trade with imprisoned drug lords at the New Bilibid Prison during the time of Justice secretary Leila de Lima. He was apprehended in Angeles City in 2019.
Aside from the charges arising from the De Lima debacle, Dera also faces separate charges, DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said.
Clavano also clarified that the five personnel accompanying Dera are contractual employees detailed with the agency's Security Division.
The group was in a van about to return to the NBI compound when they were apprehended, Clavano confirmed.
In a statement, the NBI said the chief of the Security Management Section has been relieved from his post pending investigation of the case.
"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," the NBI said.
"I can confirm the statement only as to the part na si Jad Dera ay lumabas sa detention center kasama ang mga NBI security officers. One plantilla and five job orders and totoo po na nahuli (it is also true that he was arrested) si Jad Dera nong pumasok siya ng mga 12 midnight last night. Nandoon na po yung ibang NBI agents natin and nahuli si Jad Dera na nakasakay sa NBI na van (It is true that Jad Dera was arrested when he returned around 12 midnight. Our NBI agents were there and caught Jad Dera on board an NBI van). As to those confiscated items, mayroong (there were) firearms, cash and other contraband," Clavano said.
"That is all I have received in the reports. I just want to emphasize na itong pangyayari na ito 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. Kaya 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.
The detention center is among the structures in the NBI being torn down to give way for the rebuilding of the agency's headquarters. (PNA)
