DOJ eyes transfer of NBI detainee Jad Dera to new facility

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday said it is eyeing to transfer Jad Dera, the detainee who was arrested last week for leaving the detention facility of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), somewhere else.

DOJ spokesperson Atty. Mico Clavano said that besides being able to come and go from the facility, Dera had enjoyed other privileges at the detention center.

“Kagaya po ng pagkain, kagaya po ng sleeping conditions, lahat po ito nalaman ho natin na nababayaran po ng ating detainee na si Jad Dera,” Clavano said in an ambush interview.

(Privileges such as food, such as sleeping conditions. We found that Jad Dera was able to pay for all of this.)

According to Clavano, Dera was paying the six NBI security officers who were arrested with him on Wednesday at midnight last week.

“Well, there was no specific amount per privilege, although malaki po ang amounts. In the hundreds of thousands po ang mga amounts na binibigay po as payment for privileges inside,” he said.

Clavano said they are also looking into whether other detainees enjoyed such privileges. However, he stressed that Dera’s situation was unique as the “mayores” of the facility.

“Siya po yung pinaka kumabga head ng mga detainees doon sa loob ng NBI detention center. Kaya siguro yun po yung naging basehan kung bakit nakukuha niya lahat ng privileges na ito,” he said.

(He is the head of the detainees in the NBI detention center. This may be the basis on why he was the one receiving the privileges.)

“But as I said, 100% unacceptable po no na nag kakaganon na trato sa isang detainee,” he added.

(As I said, such treatment for a detainee is 100% unacceptable.)

Clavano said the DOJ would like to address this by moving Dera.

“Dahil po, sinasabi na natin yan dati pa no, na yung familiarity with the detention center exposes risks. Yung mga detainees ho natin nag iisip po yan lagi no kung paano nila, kung paano mas maging maganda ‘yung stay nila,” he said.

(We have said before that familiarity with the detention center exposes risks. Detainees are always thinking about how to improve their stay.)

Meanwhile, Clavano clarified that both the chief of security and the head of the NBI detention facility have been suspended due to the incident.

According to Clavano, they have also asked Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gregorio Catapang Jr. to keep an eye out for similar situations.  

“We will take this investigation to the BuCor as well to make sure that none of this happened as well there. Dahil nakita ho natin yung dynamics dito sa NBI na posible ding nangyayari sa BuCor,” he said.

(We will take this investigation to the BuCor to ensure that none of this also happened there. Because we see that such dynamics in the NBI are also possible in the BuCor.)

Dera and the six NBI security officers went under inquest proceedings at the DOJ a day after they were arrested. All seven had asked for a preliminary probe, which will be held on July 29. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News