Senator Leila De Lima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON
The talent manager of robbery convict Herbert Colanggo alleged that Senator Leila de Lima received P3 million as payola for tolerating Colanggo’s high-roller lifestyle inside the New Bilibid Prison.
In his testimony on the last day of the House of Representatives justice committee inquiry into the proliferation of drugs at the NBP, Reynante Delima Diaz said he delivered P3 million monthly from Colanggo to De Lima through her alleged bagmen Ronnie Dayan and Jonel Sanchez from Oct. 2013 to Nov. 2014.
Diaz also said De Lima received an additional P1 million in case Colanggo held concerts inside the Bilibid.
He added that he delivered a total of P45 million or P3 million monthly from Oct. 2013 to Nov. 2014.
Diaz said he personally handed over the money to Dayan and Sanchez. Dayan is De Lima’s former driver, while Sanchez was De Lima’s former security aide.
READ: Colangco: Security aide Sanchez is De Lima’s bagman
“Pagkatapos ko i-abot kay Jonel ang P3 million, tatawag agad si Ronnie Dayan kay Secretary de Lima at minsan naka-speaker phone, sasabihin ni Ronnie ‘Ma’am, okay na’ tapos sagot naman ni Madam Secretary ‘Ok sige bilisan niyo,'” Diaz said.
Diaz said because of Colanggo’s influence in the Department of Justice, he was allowed to lead a lavish lifestyle by performing concerts and bringing in alcohol to the inmates.
Diaz described the Bilibid as a “land of sexy women, concerts, casinos, trading, business and golf carts.”
Diaz’ testimony would seem to complement the earlier testimony of Colanggo, who testified that he gave P3 million payola to De Lima.
Colanggo also alleged he sold 300 boxes of beer at the maximum security compound where De Lima allegedly has a P1-million share./rga
READ: Colangco alleged he gave P3M drug payola to De Lima | Colangco: I turned Bilibid into ‘Roxas Boulevard’