Jaybee Sebastian's death has no 'significant' effect on De Lima prosecution —DOJ chief

The death of Jaybee Sebastian, a high-profile inmate at the New Bilibid Prison, will not significantly affect the Department of Justice's (DOJ) strategy in prosecuting Senator Leila de Lima, Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Tuesday.

The Bureau of Corrections has told the DOJ that Sebastian, who was supposed to testify against De Lima, has been cremated after he died of COVID-19.

"Jaybee Sebastian is only one in an array of witnesses against Senator De Lima," Guevarra said in a message.

"His loss does not affect in any significant manner the overall strategy of the prosecution in the pending criminal cases," he said.

De Lima faces three cases for conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court over allegations of her involvement in the Bilibid drug trade. She denies the charges.

She moved for bail in one of the three cases in June, the first time she has done so since being arrested in 2017.

In a 2016 House hearing, Sebastian accused De Lima of being a protector of illegal drug operations at the national penitentiary. The senator claimed Sebastian was "pressured" to testify against her.

Sebastian had reportedly admitted to drug peddling while incarcerated.

Meanwhile, Guevarra has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the death of Sebastian and of eight other inmates convicted of drug offenses.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines has called for transparency and accountability.—AOL, GMA News