• Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Tuesday that it has found probable cause to indict Jose Adrian “Jad” Dera, who is a co-accused in the remaining drug case filed against former senator Leila de Lima and six other National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) security personnel, for violation of the provisions of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) in connection with the former’s brief but unauthorized trip out of his detention cell last June 20, 2023.

In a statement, the DOJ said Dera and NBI job order personnel identified as Arnel Ganzon, Diana Rose Novelozo, Lee Eric Loreto, King Jeroh Martin, and Pepe Piedad Jr. were indicted for violation of Article 156 of the RPC which imposes the penalty of arresto mayor in its maximum period against any person “who shall remove from jail or penal establishment any person confined therein or shall help the escape of such person, by means of violence, intimidation, or bribery.”

On the other hand, NBI Security Officer II Randy Godoy was indicted for violation of Article 22 of the RPC or the infidelity in the custody of prisoners.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed by operatives of the NBI-National Task

Force Against Illegal Drugs (NTFAID).

Based on the complaint, the accused NBI security personnel escorted Dera out his detention using an NBI marked vehicle under the pretense of a medical check-up outside the said premises and without any court order or authorization last June 20 to early morning of June 21.

The NBI-NTFAID said it was discovered that they met with Dera’s female friend and went to share a meal in a restaurant in Makati City.

When they went back to the NBI headquarters, the group was arrested by NBI agents who managed to confiscate P101,000 cash from Dera.

The amounts of P10,000 and P11,000 were also seized from Godoy and Veloso, respectively.

The money, according to the DOJ, appears to be the payment made for escorting Dera out of his detention.

The case against them was filed before the Metropolitan Trial Court of Manila City.

Earlier, the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Muntinlupa City ordered the transfer of Dera from NBI to a regular jail facility in Muntinlupa City upon the request of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The DOJ cited the impending demolition of the NBI detention facility in seeking Dera’s transfer.