(Eagle News)– Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Sunday (September 25) assured convicted drug lord Jaybee Sebastian’s presence in the next hearing of House’s justice committee, and may use force if the latter would not conform.
“Kung iyong sabi mo to forcibly bring him? ‘Pag ayaw niyang sumunod ay malamang iyon ang gawin sa kanya. Kasi compulsary process iyon eh,” Aguirre said in a radio interview.
He cleared up however that the justice committee has not issued a subpoena on Sebastian.
“Actually hindi subpoena eh. Ako ang nire-require as head of the Department of Justice (DOJ) kaya parang kasi suspended ang political rights ng ilang prisoners eh so wala silang karapatan na tanggihan ang mga iyon,” the justice secretary explained.
Aguirre added that Sebastian is not a DOJ witness and still uncertain of what the inmate will say in the scheduled hearing.
“‘Di ako maaring mag-speculate. Dalawnag bagay ang puwedeng gawin niya: magsabi siya ng totoo o magsabi siya ng kasinungalingan,” he said.
Sebastian allegedly collected money along with his fellow high-profile inmates for Senator Leila De Lima’s campaign in the last May elections.
The DOJ already acquired the Anti-Money Laundering Council’s (AMLC) report on bank accounts that may be involved in the narcotics trade inside New Bilibid Prison.
Last Thursday, De Lima said that Sebastian was a government asset.
The next House committee hearing is scheduled in October 5.
