Aguirre: Over P300M seized from Bilibid drug raid in 2014 missing

Two witnesses have disclosed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) that more than P300 million is missing from the cash seized during the raid at the New Bilibid Prison in December 2014. 

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II told reporters that the witnesses, an inmate and an intelligence officer, discredited reports that only P1.6 million cash was confiscated from prisoners housed in the maximum security compound.  

He said the witnesses were present during the raid on Dec. 15, 2014 led by then-Justice Secretary and incumbent Senator Leila De Lima, who is now being accused of complicity in the illegal drug trade inside the NBP. 

"They were able to get more than P300 million in that particular raid. Ang dineclare lang nila (raiding team) ay P1.6 million," Aguirre said, adding he will ask the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the matter. 

Asked about the possibility that the money could have been raised from illegal drug operations, Aguirre said: "Definitely. Saan nila kukunin 'yun?"

Following the raid, De Lima ordered the temporary relocation of 19 alleged drug lords from the penitentiary to the NBI in Manila. 

Several inmates later on testified at the House inquiry on the proliferation of illegal drugs in the NBP that their transfer was allegedly a ploy for convicted kidnapper Jaybee Sebastian to monopolize the drug trade. 

Sebastian is said to have raised funds from drug proceeds for De Lima's senatorial run this year.

De Lima has since denied all allegations linking her to the illegal drug trade. — Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News