(Eagle News) — A former policeman who has been detained at the New Bilibid Prisons for the last 15 years testified of how he personally delivered P1.5 million in cash to then former Justice Secretary Leila De Lima placed inside a gift-wrapped shoe carton box.
Former Police Officer 3 Engelberto Durano, a member of the Batang Cebu Brotherhood member, told the House committee on Justice hearing that he personally handed over to De Lima the box containing the money at the office of the “Commando” gang as was instructed by “Jaguar.”
Durano said “Jaguar” was a certain Jeffrey Diaz, one of Visayas’ top drug traders. Jaguar was one of those tagged by President Duterte in the drug matrix on the illegal drug trade at the NBP. He was killed in one of the anti-drug raids in Las Pinas City in June.
According to Durano, Jaguar helped De Lima’s former driver-bodyguard and supposed right-hand man Ronnie Dayan to raise funds for the senatorial bid of the then Justice secretary.
He said Jaguar asked him if he had any cash at the time. When he replied, he had only P500,000, Jaguar said he needed P1.5 million as requested by Dayan.
He then told Jaguar that he could get the additional amount. When he completed the required amount, Jaguar called him up and gave him instructions to give it directly to De Lima.
“Maya-maya ay tumawag si Jaguar sa akin at binigyan ako ng instruction na balutin nang maayos ang pera na di pansinin, at naghanap ako ng kahon ng sapatos, tsaka ko inilagay ang pera sa loob at ibinalot ko ang kahon ng gift wrapper,” said Durano.
“Nang maibalot ko na nang maayos ang pera ay inutusan ako ni Jaguar na pumunta sa Commando at sinabi niya na wala kang bibigyan na iba kung hindi si Secretary De Lima lamang,” Durano said.
The witness said that he was then at Building 11 of the NBP where he was staying. From there, he said he walked to Bilibid TV Channel 3, which serves as the office of Jaybee Sebastian, the leader of the Commando Gang. Sebastian was managing a TV channel while inside the NBP.
He said a man wearing a white barong Tagalog met him at the door, and accompanied him to De Lima.
“Nang papalapit pa lang kami kay Secretary ay napansin ko na nakatingin sa amin si Secretary De Lima … Inabot ko na kay Secretary De Lima ang kahon na may lamang P1.5 million at sinabi ‘Ma’am, ito no po.’ Kinuha ito ni Secretary at inabot sa lalakeng sumalubong sa akin,” Durano recalled.
When he left the area to go back to his kubol, Durano said he looked back and saw De Lima walking “like a model.”
“Habang papalayo ako. nakalingon ako sa kanya (Sec. De Lima) at nakita ko na lumalakad siya na parang model papunta sa gitna ng poste na bakal sa BTV3, sabay hawak sa poste at sa kanyang scarf at nagsalita na ”Ok ba Jaybee” na ang isang kamay ay nakataas at ang isa ay nasa baba.”
When he reached his kubol, Durano said that he immediately called up Jaguar that he had already delivered the money to De Lima.
He also disclosed in the House hearing that Jaguar and Dayan had drug and money transactions since February 2014. He said these transactions amounted to a total of P27.3 million.
Durano said he was the one who introduced Dayan to Diaz, when De Lima’s driver offered to give “protection” to their shabu “business” for a price.
He also mentioned one Kerwin Espinosa whom Jaguar had helped to establish drug trade in Albuera, Leyte.
Durano was one of the witnesses presented at the third hearing of the House committee on justice regarding the illegal drug trade at the NBP.
Durano said he only wanted to renew his life after his stay at the NBP. He rued that he got involved in the illegal drug trade while inside the NBP as he had no choice. He said that it was ironic he did not get involved in the illegal drug trade before he was jailed, but that he was forced to do so when he was already confined at the NBP.
Overwhelmed with emotion after saying this, Durano cried after his testimony. Durano was one of the witness given immunity by the House committee on justice.
(Eagle News Service)