Sebastian denies

hes De Lima asset,

seeks immunity from
suit
By: Marc Jayson Cayabyab / @MJcayabyabINQ
INQUIRER.net / 11:02 AM October 10, 2016

Jaybee Sebastian at the drug trade hearing at Congress. NIO JESUS

ORBETA/INQUIRER

Kidnapping convict Jaybee Sebastian has asked the House of

Representatives justice committee for immunity from suit, saying he
was willing to testify in the House inquiry into the proliferation of
drugs at the Bilibid.
He also denied being a government asset of Senator Leila De Lima
when the latter was justice secretary.
Sebastian arrived at the Lower House around 7:30 a.m. as a witness
in the House inquiry in aid of legislation looking into the drug trade
that Sebastian allegedly monopolized after the pull-out of the socalled Bilibid 19 led by robbery convict Herbert Colanggo, who also
allegedly operated the trade.
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Wearing a gray jacket, Sebastian casually walked to his seat with his
hands in his pocket accompanied by Bilibid security at the start of the
hearing.
Bilibid inmates who testified in the House inquiry alleged that
Sebastian was De Limas favored drug lord who raised campaign
funds for the senator from the drug trade.
READ: NBI exec claims he gave P10M drug quota to De
Lima | 1st witness testifies De Lima got millions from drug
lord
During the previous hearing last Thursday, Justice Secretary Vitaliano
Aguirre II said Sebastian was advised by his doctors not to attend the
hearing.
Aguirre today said Sebastian was not among those requested to be
granted immunity from suit in connection with the testimony before
the congressional inquiry.
Aguirre said this was because the Department of Justice did not
arrange for Sebastians presence in the committee.
We have no participation in connection with his appearance this
morning, Aguirre said.
Sebastian was accompanied by his lawyer Eduardo Arriba.

Arriba asked the committee that Sebastian be granted immunity from

suit in connection with his testimony before the House inquiry.
Aribba also asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to place Sebastian
under the witness protection program.
May we ask with respect to placing the witness under Witness
Protection Program, as well as granting in his favor immunity by this
Honorable Body, Arriba said.
Upon the questioning of majority floor leader Rudy Farinas, Sebastian
said he was willing to tell the truth when he is placed under witness
protection.
Asked by committee chairman Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali
if Sebastian was a government asset as claimed by De Lima,
Sebastian said: No, your Honor. Yun gusto kong linawin dito, your
Honor.
Aguirre said the DOJ would study Sebastians request to be placed
under witness protection.
I believe there are so many things more they can testify on if they
can convince the DOJ. Then we might consider putting him under
Witness Protection Program. As of today, hintayin natin, Aguirre said.
The committee has forwarded Sebastians request for immunity to
the office of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.
The Bilibid riot that almost killed Sebastian started when convicted
police officer Clarence Dongail caught inmates Peter Co, Tony Co, and
Vicente Sy having a pot session inside their cell at the Bilibid
maximum security compound.
Tony Co went to the cell of Sebastian and Dongail and attacked
Dongail with a knife, sparking the riot. Tony Co was killed in the riot,
while Peter Co was in critical condition and Sebastian sustained
multiple puncture wounds.

De Lima has said Sebastian was a government asset in the Dec. 2014
raid that cracked down on lavish quarters of Bilibid drug lords. CBB
RELATED STORY
De Lima Bilibid asset hurt in riot; high-profile inmate killed
Ref:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/823665/sebastian-testifies-in-bilibid-probe