NBI arrests co-accused De Limas after alleged escape from custody

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(1st UPDATE) Raymund Palad, lawyer for Jad Deras, denies allegations against his client and says Dera left his detention center to seek a doctor because he felt ill

MANILA, Philippines Jose Adrian Jad Dera, co-defendant of former Senator Leila de Lima in her remaining drug case, was arrested by authorities on Wednesday, June 21, after allegedly escaping.

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During a Wednesday afternoon press briefing, DOJ spokesperson Deputy Secretary Mico Clavano confirmed that Dera was arrested around midnight Wednesday while riding in a National Bureau van. of Investigation (NBI). Six NBI security officers were also arrested.

Clavano said firearms, cash and other contraband items were confiscated from Dera.

But during a briefing with reporters, Raymund Palad, Deras’ lawyer, denied the allegations against his client and said Dera had left his detention center to seek a doctor because he felt ill. Palad said his client was cleared from the facility, as explained by the NBI marked vehicle and security escorts.

We do not question the arrest made by the NBI on Dera and the escorts inside the NBI compound as they received information and saw that Dera was outside the prison that night -there. It’s their right to do so if they believe infractions have been committed, Palad told Rappler.

Deras’ attorney added that according to his client’s family, the defendant had previously been granted temporary release from custody for medical reasons. The attorney also said the NBI has a record of Deras’ visits to the medical facility.

According to Clavano, they received confidential information about Dera’s whereabouts, which prompted them to inform the NBI that he was not in his detention center. This, in turn, prompted the NBI, Clavano said, to create a task force whose members were waiting to catch Dera near the NBI’s gate.

Around midnight, this same van drove in, stopped by NBI agents and Jad Dera and his escorts were found there. (Around midnight, the van drove in and was stopped by NBI agents who found Jad Dera and his escorts.)

When asked if Dera escaped, Clavano replied: Well, yes. Tumakas (escaped), with the connivance of NBI agents who were with him security guards and five jobs [order hires] of the security division.

I just want to point out that na itong pangyayari na ito (that this incident) revealed that there is this connivance between some people in detention and those in the NBI that allow them to temporarily exit the detention center and come back. So it wouldn’t have happened if it hadn’t been for the collusion, Clavano told reporters.

Meanwhile, contrary to DOJ information, Dera was arrested by authorities inside the NBI compound, his lawyer claimed. Palad also said they have yet to determine what complaint will be filed against his client, adding that they will respond to any complaints that are filed.

Dera is among the co-defendants of detained former Senator Leila de Lima in connection with her pending drug charge. Branch 256 of the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court was handling the pending drug charge, but as presiding judge Romeo Buenaventura had already inhibited, the case will be handled by another court in Muntinlupa.

At the height of the drug allegations against De Lima, Dera was labeled by the DOJ as De Lima’s nephew. However, Deras’ camp denied the allegations and said he was an asset to the Philippine National Police. Rappler.com

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