MANILA, Philippines — A detainee of the National Bureau of Investigation left his cell at least four times, according to the result of an NBI investigation released yesterday.
Jose Adrian Dera’s dinner in a buffet restaurant in Makati on Tuesday night was the latest of several outings, the NBI reported.
Dera had earlier visited Tagaytay, Subic and Calatagan, the NBI reported.
Closed-circuit television footage released by the NBI showed Dera, a co-accused in one of detained former senator Leila de Lima’s drug cases, dining with his supposed girlfriend in the restaurant on Tuesday night.
Dera was caught carrying firearms, cash and other contraband when he returned to the NBI, escorted by NBI personnel, that same night.
On Thursday, Dera was charged with corruption of public officials while five NBI jail guards and a security officer were charged with graft and bribery.
Dera’s latest outing contradicted previous reports that he required an escort for a medical checkup for gastritis, according to the NBI.
Dera was escorted to his residence in Rizal after dinner, the NBI investigation showed.
“Alex,” one of the NBI jail guards charged in connection with Dera’s unauthorized furlough, said she was forced to join Dera on trips six times because she did not want to lose her job.
The NBI also reported that lawyer Levito Baligod, who represents the family of slain Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo, provided information on Dera’s alleged activities and the involvement of the jail guards.
Baligod believes that Dera and another detainee, Marvin Miranda, left their cells together on Tuesday night but Miranda returned first, the NBI said.
Miranda is accused of masterminding Degamo’s assassination along with Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr.