INQUIRER file photos
MANILA, Philippines–The former driver of Senator Leila de Lima has been cited by the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court (QC MeTC) Branch 34 for indirect contempt after he refused to testify against the senator.
Ronnie Dayan took the witness stand but refused to answer questions from the prosecutor. He was supposed to testify against the senator regarding her disobedience to summons case.
Dayan is maintaining his stand since last year that he will not testify against the senator. Citing right against self-incrimination, he pointed out that he cannot testify because they are facing the same case.
QCMeTC Judge Ma. Ludmila de Pio Lim has required Dayan to pay a fine of P200.
But Dayan was forced to take the witness stand after the Court denied his motion to quash the subpoena that required him to appear and testify as a prosecution witness.
“Obviously napilitan lang sya maupo at hindi sya napilit ng husgado na sagutin yung mga tanong ng prosecution,” De Lima’s counsel, Atty. Filibon Tacardon, told reporters.
[The prosecution failed to get his response to questions. Obviously, he was only forced to take the witness stand.]
Tacardon questioned the Judge’s move requiring Dayan’s lawyer to make his objection before Dayan can invoke his right against self-incrimination.
“Para sa akin, ang karapatan na mag-invoke ng right against self-incrimination ay personal na karapatan ni Ronnie yan. Hindi naman yun obligasyon ng abogado. Mag-object man o hindi yung abogado, kapag sinabi nung akusado na he’s invoking his right against self-incrimination, hindi sya mapipilit talagang magsalita,” Tacardon said.
[The right against self-incrimination is personal. It is not the obligation of the lawyer. Whether the lawyer makes his objection or not, once the accused invokes the right against self-incrimination, he cannot be forced to talk.]
The two were charged with disobedience to summons in 2016. De Lima allegedly texted Dayan’s daughter to tell her father to snub the Congressional inquiry on the proliferation of illegal drugs inside the New Bilibid Prison in 2016. Dayan followed the advice prompting Congress to order his arrest and issue a show cause order against the senator.
The disobedience to summons case was initiated by then Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Representatives Rodolfo Fariñas and Reynaldo Umali,
The QC MeTC set the next hearing on May 15. Dayan’s daughter Hannah Mae will be presented by the prosecution as their next witness. /jpv
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