(Eagle News)–The camp of the recently arrested co-accused in the drug-related cases filed against Senator Leila de Lima has denied the allegations against him.
The lawyer of Jose Adrian Dera, alias Jad de Vera himself issued the denial when his client was presented to the media at the National Bureau of Investigation headquarters in Manila hours after he was arrested in his house in Barangay Balibago, Pampanga around 5:30 a.m.
Dera, who had been in hiding for two years, was arrested by virtue of a warrant issued by the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court on his 30th birthday.
He is also facing a separate case of murder in 2017.
Lawyer Raymund Palad noted that the NBI itself did not charge Dera with anything as it did not find any link between his client and the illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison.
The NBI confirmed this, saying it was the prosecutors office that recommended that the charges be filed against Dera based on testimony from an NBP inmate.
Palad added that Dera was a police asset.
“He was appointed as alpha or asset or agent by the PNP last February 2016,” he said.
He said they submitted papers to the Department of Justice and the NBI confirming this.
“May agreement at oath of loyalty to comply with his duties sa organization ng PNP,” Palad said.
Dera will remain detained at the NBI pending the court’s issuance of a commitment order, the NBI said. Moira Encina
