MANILA - The House of Representatives still expects high-profile Bilibid inmate Jaybee Sebastian to attend the next congressional investigation into the proliferation of illegal drugs at the national penitentiary despite his injuries at the riot earlier Wednesday.

Sebastian was among three high-profile inmates injured in a stabbing incident at the NBP’s Building 14. Convicted crime lord Tony Co was killed, while drug convict Peter Co is in critical condition. Sebastian and Vicente Sy were being treated in the hospital.

House Justice Committee Chair Rey Umali, who is leading the probe, said Sebastian might still be compelled to attend the probe if his injury is not that serious.

“Ano ba yung injury niya? Kung hindi naman debilitating 'yun he must appear. Kung debilitating I mean he cannot really come, we can spare him for the next hearing,” he said.

Sebastian was the alleged go-to guy of Senator Leila de Lima at the New Bilibid Prisons. He allegedly ordered gang leaders at the national penitentiary to sell drugs in order to raise money for the Senate campaign of the then-justice secretary.

De Lima has denied all the allegations against her.

The hearing will continue despite pending budget deliberations in the plenary. The general rule is all other committee deliberations are suspended when the budget is in the plenary unless the rule is suspended.

As of press time, House has not issued a subpoena for Sebastian, De Lima's former drivers Joenel Sanchez and Ronnie Dayan, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission Executive Director Reginald Villasanta, and former Corrections Bureau chief Franklin Bucayu.

Umali, however, explained a subpoena is not needed to compel Sebastian's attendance.

"As I said his civil rights is suspended. He is under the custody of NBP, BuCor, and DOJ. So when we directed the DOJ to do that they have every means to bring them to the hearing,” Umali said.

Umali also maintained that the committee is ready to hear De Lima.

"It’s an open invitation. Anytime she wants to come, please do. We will receive her. We will try to be as fair as possible," he said.

Umali also did not discount the possibility that the Bilibid riot will be discussed in the next hearing.

"I’m sure it will crop up. I don’t even have to bring it up. I’m sure many of our members will raise those questions," he said.

Umali also expressed openness to showing the alleged sex video of De Lima in the inquiry “for as long as it is germane to the purpose of the resolution.”

• READ: Aguirre threatens to play De Lima 'sex videos'