Sebastian: I gave P10-M drug money to De Lima, mostly through aide

Convict Jaybee Sebastian on Monday claimed giving then Justice secretary Leila de Lima a total of P10-million "drug money," once personally but mostly through her former close-in security Joenel Sanchez.

In his testimony before the House of Representatives Committee on Justice, Sebastian also claimed speaking with De Lima around seven or eight times. He later changed his statement to between "eight and 12 times."

Sebastian, who was granted immunity in exchange for his tetsimony at the House, said that following the December 15, 2014 raid at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), he sent P2 million to De Lima through Sanchez.

The NBP inmate said he then called up Sanchez to confirm if De Lima had already received the money.

"May narinig ako sa linya na kaboses ni Sec. De Lima... sabi ko, 'Natanggap n'yo po ba ang regalo ko sa inyo?'" recounted Sebastian. De Lima allegedly replied: "Yes, Jaybee. Merry Christmas."

In another instance, Sebastian claimed leaving P2 million at the office of then Bureau of Corrections chief Franklin Jesus Bucayu for De Lima, who he said was also inside the office.

De Lima allegedly told him "iwan mo na lang diyan" since Sanchez was not around.

Sebastian said he additionally raised P6-million drug money and gave it to Sanchez at the office of the Bilibid TV 3 (BTV3), where the inmate holds office.

He said the stash of money, composed of P1,000 bills, is usually placed in a paper bag.

"Maliit pa po ang P2 million. Sa totoo lang makakakita kayo ng P30 million sa sugal a night," said Sebastian.

In his affidavit, Sebastian claimed giving a total of P14 million, and not P10 imllion, to De Lima,either personally or through her aide Sanchez.

Apart from the P2 million he gave before Christmas of 2014 and the P2 million in January 2015, Sebastian claimed giving P10 million from March to May 2015.

But during interpellation, Sanchez said the total was only P10 million.

Asked how much he gave to De Lima in total, " Sebastian said: "A total of P10 million, your honor."

Sebastian added that the entire sum was sourced from the illegal drug trade.

Sebastian claimed noticing De Lima and Sanchez's close relationship, with the two allegedly calling each other "sweetie." Sanchez, who was eventually called into the hearing, denied Sebastian's claim of any intimate relationship with his former boss, or receiving drug money for De Lima. 

Sebastian also said he heard a rumor that De Lima was also having an affair with an alias "Makoy," who was earlier revealed by another inmate-witness as having replaced Sanchez in collecting drug money for De Lima. 

In a chance interview at the Senate, De Lima claimed Sebastian was pressured to testify against her.

“Apparently or obviously, Jaybee Sebastian has been pushed to the wall. Apparently and obviously, hindi na niya nakayanan ‘yung pressure,” the embattled senator said.

“Now that he has finally appeared there at sumama na rin sa mga kasinungalingan na ‘yan, ibig sabihin hindi na niya kinaya yung pressure,” De Lima said.

Sebastian said he first met De Lima when she visited the NBP to order the dismantling of "kubols" or makeshift shelters.

The second time he saw De Lima was when he was being transferred from the medium to the maximum security compound of the NBP.

The third time he saw De Lima was after the grenade blast at the NBP on January 8, 2015, when the then Justice secretary visited to check up on them.

n his testimony, Sebastian branded De Lima as a protector of illegal drug operations at the NBP.

At the continuation of the House inquiry on illegal drugs inside the NBP, Compostela Valley Rep. Ruwel Peter Gonzaga asked Sebastian if he would consider De Lima as a "protector" or as an accomplice in the illegal drug trade.

"Mas okay na protektor," said Sebastian, who after being given immunity, admitted to being engaged in drug peddling while incarcerated.

Sebastian added: "Alam niya (De Lima) na galing sa drugs ang pinagkukunan namin ng pera. Wala naman kaming ibang pagkukunan ng pera."

When asked later by Sarangani Rep. Rogelio Pacquiao, Sebastian once again pointed to De Lima as protector for the proliferation of drugs inside the NBP.

Sebastian also claimed that the illegal drug trade at the NBP has become so rampant that inmates exchange P50 million to P100 million a day in illegal transactions right inside the national penitentiary.

Sebastian appeared at the House inquiry two weeks afterhe was stabbed inside the national penitentiary, along with fellow inmates Chinese Peter Co and Vicente Sy, who were all wounded. A fourth inmate, Tony Co, was killed in the incident.

Sebastian claimed he was stabbed to prevent him from testifying before the House justice committee inquiry. He pointed to another convict, Chief Inspector Clarence Dongail, as the person behind the stabbing incident.

He also belied allegations that he tapped other inmates and drug convicts into pooling funds for De Lima's senatorial campaign kitty. Sebastian also denied being an "untouchable" at the Bilibid, adding that fellow inmate Herbert Colanggo was the most powerful and influential man at the NBP.

Sebastian said he is willing to undergo a lie detector test to prove his claims regarding the illegal drug trade inside the penitentiary. —ALG/KBK, GMA News