The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) a criminal complaint against Senator Leila de Lima and 17 others for their alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

Complaints of violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, qualified bribery, violation of the Anti-Graft Law and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and Presidential Decree 46 or the law on accepting gifts were filed against De Lima.

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On the other hand, former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director Franklin Bucayu, former Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III, NBI Deputy Director Rafael Ragos, De Lima’s former security Joenel Sanchez, her former driver Ronnie Dayan, a certain Wilfredo Elli, Jesusa Francisco, Lyn Sagum, Julius Rejuso and a certain Alias George were facing a complaint for direct bribery, violation of the Anti-Graft Law, Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and the law against accepting gifts.

Bilibid convicts, on the other hand, were slapped with a complaint for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act for the sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation of dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursors and essential chemicals. The inmates include Jaybee Sebastian, Herbert Colanggo, Engelbert Durano, Vicente Sy, Wu Tuan Yuan alias Peter Co and Jojo Baligad.

“It is evident from the revelations of numerous witnesses as detailed in their sworn affidavits that herein subject Senator Leila De Lima [and the other government officials in the complaint] were fully aware of the unlawfulness of their actions yet, still actively conspired with their superiors,” the complaint stated.

Aside from the affidavits of witnesses who appeared before the House committee on justice, the NBI also conducted interviews and collected documentary evidence to support its complaint.

De Lima claimed that she could not tolerate the illegal activities being conducted inside Bilibid which was why she started the series of raids inside prison.

But the NBI said if De Lima wanted to clean Bilibid, “this panel could not possibly fathom the idea that upon the culmination of the raid, Jaybee Sebastian, regarded by numerous personalities as the most powerful and influential drug lord inside NBP was peacefully left to himself inside his ‘kubol’ without so much as a cursory search.”

“These circumstances only cement the allegations propounded against her that Jaybee Sebastian, the figurative goose that lays the golden eggs, enjoyed her protection,” the NBI said.

The NBI complaint is the fourth case filed against De Lima at the DOJ. RAM/rga

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