De Lima claims Jaybee Sebastian ‘pressured’ to lie against her

Senator Leila de Lima on Monday said inmate Jaybee Sebastian was “pressured” by the authorities to pin her down in the ongoing congressional hearing on the alleged New Bilibid Prison (NBP) drug trade.

In a chance interview with reporters, De Lima said Sebastian has been “pushed to the wall”  especially after the so-called riot at the NBP last month.

“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.

She said even Sebastian’s wife had pleaded to him to cooperate with authorities.

De Lima recalled a text message allegedly sent by Sebastian's wife: "Sundin mo na ‘yung pinapagawa sa’yo dahil si De Lima lang naman yung habol nila. Maiintindihan din naman ‘yan ni Senator De Lima."

"Nakinig na siya sa asawa niya kasi nagmamakaawa na," the senator said.

De Lima said she received information from a source that Sebastian was the main target in the September 28 stabbing incident inside the NBP.

The inmate, alleged to have collected drug money for De Lima, sustained several stab wounds in the back and chest during the attack at the NBP Building 14, which left one inmate dead.

Joenel pressured too

On allegations of receiving money through her alleged lover and former security aide Joenel Sanchez, De Lima said she would not be surprised if Sanchez will again appear in the House justice committee hearing to corroborate Sebastian’s testimony.

“Tanungin nila si Joenel kung totoo ‘yun. Pero siyempre si Joenel, isa rin yun na na-pressure na rin magtestify so hindi ako magtataka na halimbawa, i-recall si Joenel for the purpose of collaborating or corroborating ‘yang claim na 'yan ni Jaybee Sebastian,” De Lima said.

In his affidavit read before the House panel, Sebastian said he sent P2 million to De Lima through Sanchez, whom she supposedly called “sweetie.”

Earlier, Sanchez alleged that De Lima had a romantic relationship with her former driver, Ronnie Dayan. He also claimed of watching two sex videos of De Lima and Dayan.

De Lima further said Sebastian’s denial of being a government asset was expected.

“Hindi niya kasi pwedeng aminin 'yan dahil nga, ginagawa na rin siyang sinungaling including yung ganyang paratang na may pera silang ibinigay sa’kin,” she said.

During the hearing, Sebastian said it seemed De Lima wanted him dead for announcing that he is a government asset. —ALG, GMA News