NBI detainee, 6 personnel face raps for unauthorized trips

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to file charges against National Bureau of Investigation detainee Jose Adrian Dera and six NBI personnel over his unauthorized trips outside the bureau’s detention facility.

In a statement yesterday, the DOJ said prosecutors found probable cause to indict Dera for “inducing” NBI Security Officer II Randy Godoy and five other NBI job order personnel to help him repeatedly leave the bureau.

Dera and the five NBI personnel were indicted for violation of Article 156 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) or delivery of prisoners from jail.

Godoy, a public officer, was found liable for infidelity in the custody of prisoners, which is under Article 223 of the RPC.

“After evaluation of the evidence, the assigned prosecutor found sufficient evidence to hold the respondents in trial,” the DOJ said.

Charges against Dera and the NBI personnel will be filed before the Manila Metropolitan Trial Court, according to the DOJ.

Dera’s counsel, lawyer Raymund Palad, said the DOJ briefer “corroborates our previous stance that there exists no substantiated evidence of bribery or corruption involving public officials whatsoever.”

Dera and the six NBI personnel were caught last June 21 returning to the NBI detention facility after going out without permission. Dera was found to be carrying firearms, cash and other contraband.

A security camera footage also showed him eating in a buffet restaurant with his alleged girlfriend in Makati while he was out of detention.

Dera has confessed in a Senate hearing to having left the detention facility multiple times without authorization but insisted he did not bribe his escorts.

Dera is a co-accused in the remaining drug case against detained former senator Leila de Lima.