MANILA, Philippines — The camp of Jose Adrian “Jad” Dera insisted that he is not the nephew and has not worked for Sen. Leila de Lima, but instead once served as a police asset in the crackdown of drug lords inside Bilibid.
Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation arrested Dera, after two years of hiding, in Angeles, Pampanga early Friday morning.
In a press conference in the afternoon, the NBI said that Dera was arrested in a residential subdivision in Angeles.
Lawyer Raymond Palad, Dera’s legal counsel, stressed that his client maintains that he was working as an asset of the police in 2016, when De Lima was no longer Justice secretary.
Palad said that they have documents to back up their claim that he was employed by the Philippine National Police.
“He was not an aide. He is not the nephew,” Palad stressed in Filipino.
READ: De Lima's 'nephew', co-accused in drug case nabbed in Pampanga
Drug charges
Dera is facing two charges of conspiracy to commit drug trading before Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branches 205 and 256.
Inmate Peter Co said he delivered P5 million twice to Dera. The money will supposedly fund the senatorial campaign of De Lima, who was then Justice secretary.
He was initially named as respondent in the complaint filed by the Volunteers against Crime and Corruption.
In his counter-affidavit that was submitted by the camp of De Lima to court, Dera claimed that he was an asset of the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs, National Capital Region Police Office targeting Hans Tan, an inmate in the New Bilibid Prison, Maximum Compound.
He said he merely used “the cover story” that his uncle is a former boyfriend of De Lima to gain access to “big time” drug pushers inside the national penitentiary.
Palad said Dera did not receive money from Co.
Dera admitted that he received P1 million from someone in a fast food restaurant in Macapagal, Pasay City that was for the Co’s relatives.
Palad said the money received was not for De Lima’s candidacy, but for the release of Co’s relatives. “Nothing to do with the case,” he added.
“We are confident ngayon na between the testimony ng isang convicted prisoner as against sa hawak naming papers, makakalusot naman kami dyan,” he added.
De Lima camp welcomes Dera's arrest
Lawyer Filibon Tacardon, De Lima’s legal counsel, said they welcome Dera’s arrest as it will not damage their case, but would instead strengthen it.
“He will personally state that he does not deliver money to Sen. De Lima and he has no connection with Sen. De Lima,” he told reporters in Filipino.
The transcript of the ambush interview was sent to reporters.
Tacardon pointed out that Dera, in his counter-affidavit submitted to the prosecution panel, denied his links to the senator.
Tacardon said: “His denial is documented... so we are holding on to that. We think he cannot retract that. That is in the court, that is on record.”