The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday said that it is planning to transfer alleged drug trafficker Jose Adrian ‘Jad’ Dera to another jail facility from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) detention cell.
In an interview with reporters, DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said aside from his excursion, Dera had received other special privileges while staying inside the NBI detention cell.
"Marami siyang privileges sa detention ng NBI na hindi pupwede ang trato sa isang detainee, kagaya ng pagkain, sleeping conditions, at nalaman natin na nababayaran ito," he said.
He said Dera is allegedly paying "hundreds of thousands" to obtain the special privileges.
"We would like to curtail this and stop this practice by moving him from one detention to another. We've said it before, na 'yung familiarity with the detention center exposes risks. 'Yung mga detainees natin, nag-iisip po iyan lagi kung paano mas maganda 'yung stay nila and that is something that we cannot allow," Clavano said.
On the evening of June 20, NBI agents caught Dera escaping the detention center. Some pistols and cash were reportedly retrieved from him.
According to reports, the high-profile inmate was able to go in and out of the NBI facility for four consecutive times, only to travel to places like Tagaytay, Makati, Zubic, and Calatagan, Batangas.
The camp of Dera first refuted claims that Dera left the NBI detention cell for a date and asserted that he only went out for medical consultation.
He is facing charges for corrupting public officials under Article 212 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC). The six NBI officers who accompanied him are charged with violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and infidelity in the custody of prisoners.
Dera is the co-accused in one of former Senator Leila de Lima's drug cases.
