Jaybee Sebastian tags De Lima as protector of drug trade inside NBP

Convict Jaybee Sebastian on Monday branded Sen. Leila de Lima as a protector of illegal drug operations at the New Bilibid Prison.

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.

"Sa pinagdaanan ko. Muntik ako[ng] mamatay. Nasira ang pangalan ko. Kasi, sir, sa loob 'pag sinabing snitch ka or tawiwit ka, eh wala ka nang silbing tao. Sa takbo ng kuwento eh si [former] Secretary De Lima talaga lahat [ang] may kasalanan," said Sebastian.

Earlier in his testimony, Sebastian claimed giving a total of P10 million in drug money to De Lima, mostly through her former closed-in security Joenel Sanchez.

He initially claimed seeing De Lima "seven to eight times" but later changed his statement to between "eight and 12 times."

Earlier in the day, De Lima, who has repeatedly denied the accusations against her, suspected that Sebastian had been forced into testifying against her. 

“Apparently or obviously, Jaybee Sebastian has been pushed to the wall. Apparently and obviously, hindi na niya nakayanan ‘yung pressure,” De Lima 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,” she added. — NB/RSJ, GMA News