Filtered By: Topstories
News

De Lima received P10M for transfer of Bilibid 19 to NBI jail, says inmate


Senator Leila De Lima, during her term as Justice Secretary, got P10 million from drug lord Jaybee Sebastian for the transfer of other high-profile inmates dubbed as the “Bilibid 19” from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), a witness said on Tuesday.

In his testimony before the House of Representatives committee on justice, former police officer and kidnapping convict Rodolfo Magleo said Sebastian personally told him that he paid De Lima P10 million to have the “Bilibid 19” transferred from the NBP maximum security compound to the NBI facility in Manila in December 2014.

“Binigyan niya si Secretary De Lima, the following day pagkalipat ng Bilibid 19 sa NBI, P10 million, your honor… Sinabi mismo sa akin ni Jaybee Sebastian, your honor,” Magleo said.

The House committee on justice was holding a hearing on the proliferation of illegal drug trade in the NBP during De Lima’s term as justice secretary.

Magleo claimed that Sebastian considered him as a “confidant”, being the founder of Kalasag, a group of former police officers detained in the NBP.

“Kilalang kilala ko po siya. Isa akong confidant ni Jaybee Sebastian sa lahat ng bagay-bagay your honor, even on personal matters,” Magleo said.

Magleo said Sebastian even told him that aside from the P10-million pay out, he was also giving De Lima P1 million monthly after the transfer of the Bilibid 19.

Magleo said Sebastian also pooled millions of money from other drug lords in the NBP to finance De Lima’s 2016 senatorial bid.

In exchange, Magleo said Sebastian enjoyed special treatment and protection at the NBP upon the orders of De Lima.

“Very vocal siya (Sebastian) lagi at sinasabi niya na malakas siya kay Secretary De Lima. Kitang kita ng lahat pati ng mgaa BuCor and police [officials], alam nila lahat yan,” Magleo said.

“The mere fact na kaya niya magpa-transfer ng mga drug lord na in-estafa niya. The fact na nagpapaconcert siya, at kinabukasan nandun ulit yung mga babae, makikita na talagang malakas siya,” Magleo added.

Magleo said Sebastian even boasted to him about the then impending transfer to the Bilibid 19 to the NBI.

“The night before the transfer, we had a drinking spree. Sabi niya ‘Sir tignan mo ang mangyayari mamayang madaling araw, mawawala na rito ang  mga mayayabang, mga lumalaki ulo na sagabal sa buhay ko’,” Magleo said.

Magleo said Sebastian had 19 high-profile convicted drug lords transferred to NBI facility so that he could monopolize the drug trade at the NBP.

“Nung nawala na ang Bilibid 19, hari na siya ng mga drug lord sa Bilibid. Pinatawag niya lahat ng foreign nationals at sabi niya halat ng drug dealings niyo dapat alam ko,” Magleo said.

Personal visit

Magleo said De Lima even visited Sebastian in his “white house” or kubol at the NBP maximum security compound.

“Na-invite niya si Secretary De Lima sa kanyang white house, sa bungalow niya. For me that is something abnormal,” Magleo said.

Magleo said De Lima stayed in Sebastian’s “white house” for about two to three hours while her bodyguards were waiting outside.

“Papasok si Secretary De Lima sa kubol niya (Sebastian) at dalawa lang sila doon. Hapon yun aabot ng two to three hours doon sa kubol niya, your honor. Yung mga bodyguard ay iiwan sa labas,” Magleo said.

“At pinagmamayabang ni Jaybee pag-alis ni Secretary (De Lima), sa ibang mga bisita niya, ‘O nakita ninyo gano ako kalakas kay De Lima’,” Magleo added.

At the latter part of the hearing, former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos said he, together with his subordinate NBI agent also used to deliver to De Lima’s house in Parañaque in two instances in 2012 a total of P10 million supposedly as commissions from another drug lord Peter Co.

In his testimony, convicted armed robber and drug dealer Herbert Colanggo said he also used to remit P3 million a month for about a year or a total of around P60 million to De Lima to be used as her supposed campaign kitty for her senatorial bid. —NB/JST, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT