Senate probes Jad Dera’s sneaking out of NBI cell

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate on Wednesday began its motu proprio investigation on the alleged violation of officers who had custody of Jose Adrian “Jad” Dera, an inmate who supposedly sneaked out of his detention facility.

Dera, a co-accused of former senator Leila de Lima in her remaining drug case, allegedly escaped from detention and was later arrested on June 21, along with six National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) security officers.

READ: Raps filed vs detainee, 6 security officers for ‘sneaking out’ of NBI jail

“The Senate committee on justice and human rights deems it necessary to investigate this case, so that the integrity of the country’s systems can be checked, and that the perpetrators can be penalized accordingly,” states the hearing brief.

Citing Justice Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano, the hearing brief took note of the supposed “connivance between certain people in detention and those in the NBI that allow for the detainees to temporarily go in and out of the center.”

Dera’s lawyer Raymond Palad, however, said his client had permission to temporarily leave the detention facility for medical reasons. He also said Dera was nabbed by authorities inside the NBI compound, and not while on board a marked vehicle of the agency, as claimed by the Department of Justice.

READ: NBI detainee nabbed outside Manila facility

The hearing brief also disclosed that the Senate committee on justice and human rights will review and assess the adequacy of the NBI’s security rules and mechanisms, and how the bureau detects irregularities and corruption within the agency.

The committee will also “evaluate the responsibility and accountability of the erring NBI security personnel, and pinpoint the authorities or officials concerned who gave consent, if any, in the alleged temporary release from detention of Jad Dera.”

It will then lay down proposed measures to address and prevent irregularities in the operations of law enforcement bodies in the country.

Dera is one of de Lima’s co-accused in her sole pending drug charge of allegedly facilitating illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison. Dera, however, has since denied the accusations lodged against him.

READ: Dera denies links to De Lima, claims he’s a police asset