De Lima mum on ‘affair’ with ex-driver–a ‘private’ matter

Senator Leila de Lima. NOY MORCOSO III/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

Senator Leila de Lima was mum on Tuesday about her earlier admission that she had an affair with former driver Ronnie Dayan, saying it was a private matter and that she was never “comfortable” discussing it in public.

“Ito lang ang masasabi ko, simple lang ang sagot ko ayaw ko sanang sagutin yan (This is all I can say, my answer is simple and I don’t want to answer it) because I really don’t feel right engaging publicly about private matters,” De Lima told reporters.

“Ito lang ang masasagot ko. My record as a public official, first as CHR (Commission on Human Rights) chair and next as Secretary of Justice speaks for itself. And my record and my reputation has been untarnished until now because of all these unjust and unfair false allegations, fabricated lies against my alleged involvement in the drug trade,” she said.

Asked about Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II’s statement that her admission about her alleged affair with Dayan could boost the cases against her, De Lima answered “no,” saying it was just Aguirre’s opinion.

And when a reporter tried to ask about her affair with Dayan, the senator said: “It’s a private matter. I’m never comfortable responding about private matters so please excuse me…”

Dayan had allegedly collected drug money for De Lima at the New Bilibid Prison when she was still the Justice Secretary. But the senator had repeatedly denied the allegation.

De Lima has reportedly admitted her affair with Dayan, which purportedly lasted for a “few years.” RAM/rga

READ: De Lima finally admits romance with Dayan

RELATED VIDEO