Senator Leila De Lima Faces Graft Charges, Inmate Filed Case

Jaybee Sebastian files graft, criminal raps vs. Senator Leila De Lima, two others.

After facing several charges in connection to illegal drug trade, Senator Leila de Lima is facing new graft charges, this time, it was filed by an inmate.

On Friday, high-profile inmate Jaybee Sebastian filed graft and criminal charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against De Lima and former prison officials.

Also charged were former Bureau of Corrections chief Ricardo Rainier Cruz and former new NBP head Richard Schwarzkopf Jr.

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On Jaybee’s behalf, the complaints were filed by Roxanne Sebastian, hiw wife.

The complaints in the case involve the following:

the alleged complicity of De Lima, former Justice Secretary, in the proliferation of illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in exchange for campaign funds;

De Lima’s claim that Sebastian was a government asset inside the national penitentiary, and

Sebastian’s transfer from the maximum security compound to Building 14 despite threats to his life.

Specifically, De Lima was charged with violation of Section 3 of the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019; Section 5 of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (Republic Act 6713); the Anti Torture Act (Republic Act 9745); An Act Punishing the Receiving and Giving of Gifts of Public Officials and Employees (Presidential Decree 46) and indirect bribery.

However, Cruz and Schwarzkopf were not included in the complaints for indirect bribery and violation of PD 46.

According to Sebastian’s complaint, it was the female senator who instructed him to pool drug money to be used in her senatorial campaign.

“Had the respondents, De Lima, Cruz and Schwarzkopf acted favorably on the request to maintain/retain him at the maximum security compound and had respondent De Lima not disclosed to the public that Mr. Sebastian was a government asset and was the source of the information on the illegal drug trade at New Bilibid Prison, he would not have been exposed to threats and dangers to his life,” the complaint read.

“The worst of them all, he told the wife and his children that his deceased father, grandfather and maternal uncle talked to and prevailed upon him in his dreams to emulate and join them by putting a tragic end to his life,” the complaint stated.

De Lima already has two pending complaints related to the NBP drug trade filed before the DOJ.

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