Aguirre: Only De Lima will benefit had Jaybee Sebastian died in Bilibid riot

Only Senator Leila De Lima will benefit had high profile inmate Jaybee Sebastian died in the riot inside the New Bilibid Prison on Wednesday, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said.

"We want Jaybee alive than dead. Sinong gustong patayin si Jaybee? Hindi ba pag namatay si Jaybee, sino magbebenefit? Hindi ba si De Lima? Kasi mawawalan ng connect sa kanya na magte-testify," Aguirre told reporters.

Sebastian, who was among those hurt in the stabbing incident, is said to have pooled millions in drug money for De Lima's election campaign early this year, according to his fellow inmates who testified before the House justice committee in a two-day hearing last week.

He has yet to indicate his interest to appear before the legislative inquiry even as the committee said it could still proceed with the hearing without him.

The inquiry will resume on October 5.

Earlier in the day, De Lima doubted whether what happened at the Bilibid was indeed a riot, saying the four inmates who were involved in the supposed riot were those who have yet to be convinced by the government to testify against her. 

She said she received several text messages from “A1 sources” that Sebastian and his family were being threatened for refusing to testify against her. 

Earlier, Aguirre said Sebastian should no longer appear in the House inquiry as several inmates had already given testimonies that established the existence of illegal drug operations in the NBP.

Aguirre also said he will consider enrolling Sebastian to the Witness Protection Program (WPP) if the inmate will execute an affidavit on his knowledge about the Bilibid drug trade, which De Lima denied being a participant to.

Aguirre, however, learned that Sebastian was only interested in disclosing the anomalies in food supplies in the NBP. — RSJ, GMA News