KIDNAPPING convict Jaybee Sebastian yesterday admitted he gave millions in drug money to Sen. Leila de Lima when she was Justice secretary allegedly to help bankroll her senatorial bid in the May 2016 elections.
Sebastian made this allegation before the House justice committee hearing on the alleged illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison, the same day the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued an immigration lookout bulletin order against de Lima and five others.
Sebastian testified that he gave a “payola” of P2 million a month to de Lima through her security aide, Joenel Sanchez.
Sebastian alleged that he gave P10 million to Sanchez from March to May 2015.
Sebastian also said he was not able to meet the monthly quota when it was raised from P2 million to P5 million.
The high-profile inmate alleged that Sanchez and the senator had a relationship.
Sebastian however denied that he was “untouchable” due to his links with de Lima, pointing to another high-profile inmate, Herbert Colanggo, as the alleged favored drug lord of the then DOJ secretary.
Colanggo, he claimed, had the capacity to smuggle in contraband items, allow gambling activities, and hold weekly concerts inside the NBP.
Sebastian denied being a government asset, contrary to de Lima’s earlier claims.
Sebastian’s testimony came even as the DOJ issued a lookout bulletin order on de Lima and five others “to at least monitor the itineraries of their flight, travel, and/or whereabouts.”
Persons subject of such bulletin may be allowed to travel with permission from the DOJ.
Aside from de Lima, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II also issued a lookout bulletin order against Ronnie Dayan, the driver of de Lima, former Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III, former Bureau of Corrections chief Franklin Bucayu, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission Executive Director Reginald Villasanta, and Sanchez.
Aguirre said the bulletin was issued on the recommendation of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) which is building up a case against the group. (pna)
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