Jaybee Sebastian now is open to talk only to the President

Drug lord bilibid king Jaybee Sebastian will speak about his knowledge of the drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison only with President Rodrigo Duterte, his lawyer said on Wednesday, hours after the high-profile inmate was hurt in a riot inside the prison compound.

Sebastian's lawyer Edgar Arriba said the incident showed that there was a clear and present danger to the inmate's life.

"Napakarami niyang alam regarding the drug trade inside and outside NBP," said Arriba. "Ayaw niyang magsalita simply because alam niyang lalong manganganib ang buhay niya."

Arriba said Sebastian told him: "Magsasalita lang ako sa presidente."

There had been no altercation or argument which could have prompted Wednesday's attack, leading Sebastian to conclude that it may be related to the ongoing House investigation on the drug trade inside NBP, Arriba also said.

"Ang sabi niya, 'Nangyari na sa akin ngayon ang kinakatakutan ko before,'" Arriba said.

"Kung magsasalita pa siya lalong ma-expose siya sa danger, kaya magsasalita lang siya sa President," he added.

Sebastian was the most prominent name that surfaced in last week's House of Representatives hearing on the illegal drug trade inside the national penitentiary, with fellow inmates linking him to Senator Leila De Lima. 

Duterte has tagged De Lima for allowing narcotics to proliferate inside the NBP while she was justice secretary.

Arriba declined to answer when asked if this was true.

Sebastian underwent surgery on Wednesday after the riot, which left another high-profile inmate Tony Co dead and two others hurt.

Arriba said Sebastian did not want to court the ire of either the previous administration or the current one.

He also said they will request for Sebastian's transfer to another building after his release from the hospital. 

Now Sebastian is open to talk only the President of the Republic of the Philippines.