In his affidavit, inmate Tomas Doniña said he attacked Sebastian on September 28 on instructions from a former colleague at the Philippine Navy, supposedly to prevent the convicted kidnapper and confessed drug dealer from testifying on De Lima's links to illegal drugs.
The affidavit, a copy of which was obtained by GMA News, was prepared on October 8, two days before Sebastian confirmed in an inquiry conducted by the House of Representatives that he pooled drug money for De Lima's campaign kitty in the 2016 senatorial elections.
Doniña said his former Navy colleague called him up about the assassination plot when the House began its probe, assuring him that he would be released from prison if Sebastian would be killed.
"Sabi niya, hindi dapat makapagsalita laban kay Ma'am De Lima si Jaybee Sebastian. Sinabi din niya na kung magagawa kong patayin si Jaybee Sebastian at mapatalsik sa Malacañang si President [Rodrigo Duterte] ay sila ang bahala na gumawa ng paraan para ako ay mapalaya. Sabi pa ng kausap ko, 'Babagsak ang Duterte administration'," he said.
"Gayun pa man, binilin niya sa akin na kapag natunugan ko na magsasalita si Jaybee Sebastian laban kay Ma'am De Lima ay tuloy ang plano. Pero kung hindi siya babaliktad kay Ma'am cancel ang plano."
Doniña added the Navy officer told him it was De Lima and Trillanes who hatched the plan to assassinate Sebastian.
"Tinanong ko siya kung si Ma'am De Lima ba ang nagpapapatay kay Jaybee Sebastian. Ang sagot niya sa akin ay nagsanib pwersa sina Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. Sinabi rin niya sa akin na huwag akong mag-alala dahil madami silang kapanalig at kung magagawan ko ng paraan na mapatay si Jaybee Sebastian ay hindi magtatagal, lalaya ako basta maniwala lang ako sa kanya," the affidavit stated.
The inmate said he asked the Navy officer, whom he declined to identify for security reasons, if he could talk to Trillanes over the phone, but the senator allegedly turned down the request.
"[M]atapos ang ilang naming pag-uusap sa telepono, napapayag niya ako na patayin si Jaybee Sebastian," Doniña said.
Doniña admitted that he advised Sebastian not to turn his back on De Lima since he had no personal issues with him. "Noong una sinasabi niya na sa akin na hindi siya babaliktad. Nabanggit pa nga niya na 'matibay ang Liberal Party,'" he said, referring to De Lima's political party.
However, Doniña noticed that Sebastian had a change of heart when the latter watched the testimony of former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos, who admitted to delivering drug money to De Lima in 2012 when she was justice secretary.
"Sinabihan ko si Jaybee Sebastian na 'Pare, ikaw na lang ang tao ni De Lima na matibay na hindi siya ilalaglag. Sana naman ay huwag kang gumaya sa mga dating tauhan niya kagaya ni Ragos na bumaliktad sa kanya.' Iba na ang kanyang naging sagot. Ang sagot niya sa akin ay 'Pare, 'pag ako magsasalita yung mga statement ng mga kasama natin dito panis 'yon. Ang salita ko ang matibay. Pare tingnan mo lang.' Kaya naman kinailangan ko na siyang patayin," the affidavit read.
Sebastian suffered stab wounds in the hand and stomach following the incident. Three other inmates sustained injuries while convicted drug lord Tony Co was killed.
Both De Lima and Trillanes had already denied involvement in the stabbing incident.
SOURCE: GMA