Sebastian pins down Senator De Lima as protector of drugs inside Bilibid

Kidnapping convict Jaybee Sebastian, 36, (seated left, 1st row) reads his written testimony before his counsel Edmundo Arriba (in front of Sebastian) during the resumption of the House of Representatives justice committee hearing on the illegal drugs trade inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) on Monday (Oct. 10, 2016) at the Batasan Pambansa Complex in Quezon City. During the hearing, Sebastian testified that he gave millions of pesos in drug money to former Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary and now Senator Leila de Lima to help bankroll her senatorial bid in the May 2016 elections. (Photo: Ben Briones/PNA)

MANILA – Convicted kidnapper and carnapper Jaybee Sebastian on Monday tagged Senator Leila de Lima as the “protector” of the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) during her stint as justice secretary.

During the House of Representatives’ justice committee hearing, Compostela Valley Rep. Peter Gonzaga asked Sebastian regarding the role of De Lima in the NBP drug operations.

Sebastian said De Lima was more of a protector rather than a conspirator of the illegal drug trade.

“She is aware that the source of money originated from drugs (trade). We don’t have any other source,” Sebastian said in Filipino.

In his testimony, Sebastian said he raised funds to help bankroll De Lima’s senatorial bid for the May 2016 elections.

Sebastian said he had given a total of PHP10 million to De Lima through her security aide, Joenel Sanchez, who he claimed had an intimate relationship with De Lima.

Sebastian was granted immunity from suit by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.