NBI detainee, guards caught leaving facility undergo inquest

Detainee Jad Dera and six security officers of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday underwent inquest proceedings at the Department of Justice (DOJ), a day after they were arrested for leaving the detention facility.

Mark Anthony Te, Dera’s legal counsel, said his client is facing a complaint for corruption of a public official and employee while the security officers are facing a complaint for bribery and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Te said all seven asked for a preliminary investigation.

“Hindi siya masa-submit for resolution and aantayin muna ‘yung counter-affidavit namin,” he said in an ambush interview following the inquest.

(It will not be submitted for resolution and they will wait for our counter-affidavit.)

According to Te, he also assisted the six NBI personnel as they did not have their own lawyers.

Dera, along with the six security personnel left the NBI detention facility on Tuesday night. They were arrested upon their return past midnight on Wednesday.

Te said Dera had left due to a medical concern, saying he was experiencing gastritis.

“Well, Jad Dera is experiencing gastritis kasi or acid reflux. So when we say acid reflux kasi may instances na sobrang taas ng pain scale niyan. So hindi, hindi siya makukuha sa mga the usual antacids,” Te said.

(Jad Dera is experiencing gastritis or acid reflux. So when we say acid reflux, there are instances where the pain scale is really high. So it can’t be treated with the usual antacids.)

Despite this, he said he did not have details where Dera was brought.

Meanwhile, when questioned about allegations that Dera went on a date, Te said the public should not assume that the woman in the CCTV video with Dera was his companion.

“Hindi naman porket yung detainee, isa lang yung detainee doon, ia-attribute na natin kay Jad Dera yung babae. So hindi tayo makakapag comment and we will respect po yung investigation as to that woman,” he said.

(Just because there was only one detainee there, we will attribute the woman to Jad Dera. So we cannot comment on this and we will respect the investigation as to that woman.)

Te further said that the cash retrieved when Dera was arrested was for buying food.

“As per the ano ah, complaint, P101,000. pero nung pina check natin, consisting ito ng mga P100 bills. So apparently kasi, ‘yung pera na ‘yun ginagamit nila as ambagan po doon sa pagpapaluto sa loob ng detention. Nag aambagan po yung mga nag-i-stay doon para may mailuto sila,” he said.

He said he did not know why Dera brought the cash with him.

Meanwhile, Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano said there was also difficulty in getting statements from the security personnel due to an order from the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO).

“There was an order put out by the chief PAO after the recantations because PAO assisted them there. So there was a– maybe the purpose is to avoid conflict of interest when the PAO assists the respondents and then maybe later on they may also assist the complainants,” he said.

“Kaya we’re asking for their help. We hope that they can reconsider this order para naman po makapag move on na yung kasong ito,” he added.–LDF, GMA Integrated News