Drug lord Peter Co gave De Lima aide P5M for release of niece —witness

Convicted drug trafficker Peter Co paid a former security aide of Senator Leila De Lima P5 million for the release of a niece and her husband, who were nabbed in a buy-bust operation, a murder convict told a House inquiry on Wednesday.

Witness Hans Anton Tan said he volunteered to translate for fellow New Bilibid Prison inmate Co when the latter coordinated with the arresting officers. Co reportedly didn't understand Filipino.

Co, or Wu Tuan, is said to be the leader of China's drug triad operating in Luzon and in Metro Manila.

"They claim that though no evidence was recovered, a test-buy has come out positive. At first, they were demanding P5 million... They threatened to file charges against the couple and their companions," Tan said.

Tan said he contacted Jose Adrian Dera, who he met in October 2015 after the latter introduced himself as a member of the NCRPO-RAID "under Gen. Pagdilao."

In his affidavit, Tan said that prior and after joining the NCRPO, Dera worked as a close-in security aide of Sen. Leila de Lima. He was also an alleged nephew of De Lima.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier linked former NCRPO director Director Joel Pagdilao to the illegal drug trade in the country.

"We haggled on the phone later that day. [Dera] called us and said that the group agreed to P1 million. Peter told Dera, through me, to pick up the said amount in one of the popular casinos in Metro Manila and to deliver it to the alleged group to buy the freedom of Peter's niece and husband plus that of their companions, which Dera did successfully," Tan said.

However, Co reportedly ended up giving Dera a total of P5 million.

Tan said Co has proof of Dera picking up P1 million at a casino, as well as a deposit slip of one of their transactions, according to Tan.

Tan added that there was a video showing Dera visiting him at the NBP Building 14 in Muntinlupa City.

"Mr. Co actually called Solaire. He knows who's on the management and he asked them to release money and he told Dera to go there," said Tan on questioning by Manila Teachers party-list Representative Virgilio Lacson.

"Basically, he told Solaire that there's a certain Dera who's on his way there and to release this certain kind of money," he added.

When Lacson asked if this meant the casino had knowledge of any durg trade involving Co, Tan clarified: "It's not about the [drug] trade. I think Peter knows the managegment and he just borrowed money."

Lacson expressed being "amazed" at how "money from small amount to millions of pesos change hands" inside the national penitentiary.

"I also helped Dera to acquire five [5) kilograms of Shabu during the entire campaign period," Tan said.

During a Senate inquiry last month, Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa identified Co as the source of illegal drugs in the country. —NB, GMA News