Detainee’s joyride: Jad Dera admits leaving NBI ‘only four times’ but true count is six

Jose Adrian Dera FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Jose Adrian “Jad” Dera, co-accused of former senator Leila de Lima in her remaining drug case, on Wednesday admitted to leaving the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) detention center more than “four times.”

Dera himself revealed committing the irregularity repeatedly during the Senate justice and human rights committee’s motu proprio investigation into the controversy.

Asked how frequently it happened, Dera said: “Mga apat lang (only four times).”

However,  when he detailed the times he had sneaked out of detention with the help of NBI security officers, the actual count was at least six.

Dera said he first left the detention center during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic on Dec. 10, 2021, when he had a medical checkup at the Manila Doctors Hospital. For this, he secured a court order.

The next time he slipped out, Dera said his heart was checked at the Hospital of the Infant Jesus in Manila without court approval.

Asked where he went after the checkup, Dera said, “Kumain muna tapos balik na sa NBI (We ate first before going back to the NBI).”

Dera also admitted to a trip to Calatagan in Batangas, but he could no longer recall the details.

He denied going to Subic in Zambales, as stated in some news reports, but confirmed that he had briefly left detention in March when another inmate was transferred to a jail in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

Dera was asked if this was a “joyride,” he answered yes.

He was escorted by the same NBI security officers who had accompanied him in his earlier escapades.

When asked what else he and his escorts did in Cavite, Dera answered: “[Pumunta] sa bulaluhan (We went to a beef marrow stew restaurant).”

He also revealed he left the detention center in June to celebrate Father’s Day.

Dera said he last slipped out of detention in late June. He was later arrested, along with six NBI security personnel who were caught accompanying him.

NBI Director Medardo de Lemos said authorities were unaware of Dera’s history of leaving the detention center.

“It was only after the arrest that this unauthorized bringing out of the detainee came to the attention of the top management of the NBI,” he explained.

For sale: Detainees’ privileges

In the same hearing, Justice Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said detainees who pay are given certain privileges like going in and out of the NBI detention facility, according to intelligence reports they received.

“However, these intelligence reports have to be validated and verified as we cannot take them as Bible truth,” Clavano said.

Dera is one of de Lima’s co-accused in her sole pending drug charge for allegedly facilitating illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison.

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JPV/abc