Sebastian: Drug trade financed roads, basketball courts in NBP

Witness Jaybee Sebastian testifies during the Congressional hearing and inquiry on illegal drug trade in National Bilibid Prison, October 10, 2016.INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

Convicted kidnapper Jaybee Sebastian admitted he benefited from the drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) — but with a caveat.

During the last day of the House of Representatives inquiry into the drug trade, Sebastian said most of the earnings of the drug trade went to the renovation and construction of basketball courts, dormitories, and roads in the Bilibid.

READ: Sebastian denies he’s De Lima asset, seeks immunity from suit

He said that the earnings he gave to his family were sourced from his piso-piso video game business, and not through the drug trade.

“Ako ang nagpagawa ng visiting area sa opisina; marami akong pinasementuhang kalsada sa Bilibid, pinagawang basketball court, dormitories na pinaayos. Yung kinita ko, naubos din sa loob,” Sebastian said.

(I was the one behind the construction of the visiting area in the office; many roads were cemented in Bilibid, basketball courts were constructed, and dormitories were fixed. What I earned was spent inside NBP.)

“Hindi ko tinatangging mga 10 to 20 percent, hindi ko tinatanggi na nakinabangan din ako sa droga na ‘yan,” he added.

(I’m not denying that there was 10 to 20 percent, I benefited from the drug trade.)

Sebastian said, however, that he earned P30 to P50 million in the 16 years of being involved in the drug trade.

“In 16 years, mga P30 to P50 million. Maybe may sumobra; actually, just imagine every Christmas and New Year, gumagastos P2 to P3 million, para matuwa mga kakosa ko,” Sebastian said.

(In 16 years, it was from P30 to P50 million. Maybe it even went over that; actually, just imagine every Christmas and New Year, P2 to P3 million was spent to keep fellow inmates happy.)

READ: Sebastian denies being De Lima’s ‘favored’ drug lord

In his affidavit, Sebastian admitted that he gave the payola for De Lima to the latter’s former aide Jonel Sanchez, who Sebastian alleged had a relationship with De Lima.

Sebastian also denied he was a favored drug lord of De Lima, adding that he was only made the lone fund raiser of De Lima after the latter led a raid in the Bilibid that pulled out 19 inmates. The 19 inmates, led by robbery convict Herbert Colanggo, were said to be Sebastian’s competitors in the drug trade. JE/rga