‘Convict hoodwinked gov’t into testifying vs De Lima’

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

Convict Jaybee Sebastian hoodwinked the government into testifying against Senator Leila De Lima.

Sebastian, who is serving sentence of life imprisonment for kidnapping for ransom, allegedly led the fund raising for the campaign kitty of De Lima, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said on Monday.

Aguirre said Sebastian, as early as 2011, required gang leaders and other high-profile drug lords to sell 20 to 30 kilos of shabu per month and the proceeds will go to De Lima’s campaign funds.

“Even before 2013 talagang pinagbuti na ni Jaybee Sebastian ang pagbibigay ng drogang ipagbibili. Inupahan nya yung mga bosyo o yung mga head ng mga gangs nung 2011 kasi parang nagbalak na si Sen. De Lima na tumakbo noong 2013 (Jaybee Sebastian did a good work in distributing drugs to be sold. He hired the heads of the gangs in 2011 because Sen. De Lima seemed to have been planning to run in 2013),” Aguirre said.

“Pero hindi natuloy yan at yan pinangatawanan ni Jaybee na sigurado na sila na tatakbo si Sec. De Lima noong 2016 (But it did not push through but Jaybee made it certain that Sec. De Lima would run in 2016),” Aguirre said.

Aguirre admitted they tried to talk to Sebastian into testifying.

“Nakiusap sya na ilipat muna (He requested to be transferred) from Building 14 back to the Maximum Security compound and then he will talk,” Aguirre said.

Apparently, Aguirre said after the transfer, Sebastian clammed up.

“Hindi naman nya tinupad ang pangako nya. Pinabalik ko ulit sya (He did not fulfill his promise. I sent him back to) [Building 14],” Aguirre said, adding that they later learned that Sebastian only wanted to return to the Maximum Security Compound because he has millions of “collectibles.” RAM/rga

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