Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Speaker Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez on Tuesday welcomed the arrest of Ronnie Dayan, the former driver and lover of Senator Leila De Lima alleged to be the bagman of the former justice secretary in the New Bilibid Prison drug trade.
Dayan was served the arrest warrant in La Union 11:30 a.m. Tuesday after he was cited in contempt for snubbing the House of Representatives inquiry in aid of legislation on the proliferation of drugs at the national penitentiary implicating De Lima.
“That’s good news,” Alvarez said.
READ: Ronnie Dayan arrested in La Union
Majority leader Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas said Dayan would be first presented before Alvarez and would testify before the House committee on justice.
READ: Dayan has eluded NBI, police manhunt — House probe
“He will have to be brought before the Speaker who issued the warrant for his arrest, and will testify before the Committee on Justice,” Fariñas said.
Bilibid inmates who testified in the House inquiry tagged Dayan as the one who allegedly collected millions of kickbacks for De Lima from the drug trade for her senatorial campaign bid.
READ: House cites Ronnie Dayan in contempt; arrest order out
De Lima has vehemently denied the allegation, pointing out that allies of President Rodrigo Duterte have an ax to grind against her since she has crossed swords with Duterte. De Lima as human rights chair investigated the alleged links of Duterte to the Davao Death Squad when the latter was mayor.
De Lima has admitted to having an affair with Dayan, but said both of them were separated from their marriages at the time. RAM/rga