“Jad” Dera and six NBI security officers undergo inquest proceeding at the Department of Justice.
MANILA, Philippines–- The Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted controversial detainee Jose Adrian “Jad” Dera and six security personnel of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after they were caught returning to the detention facility.
This was after they purportedly went to a buffet restaurant in Makati city without court order or authorization.
DOJ’s resolution stated NBI Security Officer II Randy Godoy will be charged in court for violation of Article 223 of the Revised Penal Code for infidelity in the custody of prisoners.
On the other hand, detainee Dera, together with NBI Job Order personnel Arnel Ganzon, Diana Rose Novelozo, Lee Eric Loreto, King Jeroh Martin, and Pepe Piedad Jr. will be charged under Article 156 of the same code for delivery of prisoners from jail.
The case against them will be filed at Metropolitan Trial Court of Manila.
“After evaluation of the evidence, the assigned prosecutor found sufficient evidence to hold the respondents for trial,” the DOJ briefer stated, quoting the resolution dated July 6.
“There is probable cause in finding that Dera induced Godoy, Ganzon, Novelozo, Loreto, Martin, and Piedad to assist him in escape from prison and that Godoy, Ganzon, Novelozo, Loreto, Martin, and Piedad facilitated the escape of Dera from his detention facility,’ the document added.
Dera and the security personnel were nabbed in June after leaving the facility using an NBI-marked vehicle under what the DOJ said “is the pretense of a medical check-up” and without a court order.
“Thereafter, it was discovered that they met with Dera’s female friend and went to share a meal in a restaurant in Makati City,” DOJ said.
It added that when apprehended when they returned to the NBI where Dera was detained, the arresting agents seized P100,000 from Dera, P10,000 from Godoy, and P11,000 from Veloso.
The money, DOJ said, “appeared to be the respondent’s payment for escorting out Dera from the detention facility.”
During a Senate hearing last week, Dera admitted he was able to leave the NBI detention facility multiple times.
He also confessed only one of those trips was allowed by court and that was for him to undergo a medical check-up.
Dera’s previous trips included going to Tagaytay, Subic, and Calatagan in Batangas.
He has been detained at NBI since 2019 for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Last week, Muntinlupa court allowed government’s request to transfer Dera from NBI to Muntinlupa City Jail Male Dormitory.
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