Philippine National Police Chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa. JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
Was it a coincidence? Or the work of a fortune teller perhaps?
Before the police announced the arrest of Ronnie Dayan, alleged bagman of Senator Leila de Lima, in La Union on Tuesday noon, reports of his arrest have started circulating over the weekend.
But Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, citing information from Pangasinan police, denied twice in separate press conferences that Dayan had been arrested.
“It was confirmed by the regional director of Ilocos and provincial director of Pangasinan that no arrest happened. They keep on insisting that Dayan was arrested but as far as the police is concerned, that’s a hoax,” Dela Rosa said in a media briefing at Camp Crame on Monday.
READ: Ronnie Dayan arrested in La Union
Text messages circulating purportedly based on intelligence information said Dayan was arrested in a mall in Quezon City around 3 a.m. on Saturday. Members of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) then brought him to Urbiztondo, Pangasinan, where he had a house De Lima allegedly gave him.
READ: Ronnie Dayan still at large, not captured
The message also said Dayan is being pressured to link Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo to illegal drugs. The drug money was allegedly used to finance her vice presidential campaign since she was very vocal that she lacked funds for the campaign.
If Dayan would give in to the pressure from authorities, the PNP will made public Dayan’s arrest on November 22. But if he refuses to link Robredo, he will be killed while putting up a fight with the arresting officers.
Dela Rosa quickly debunked the reports, calling it “improbable and far-fetched” if the police would indeed pressure Dayan to drag Robredo’s name into the drug issue.
“Grabe naman na theory yan, i-link si VP? Sino nag-isip niyan? Grabe naman, napaka-wild na pagiisip,” he said.
The police chief, who previously taunted Robredo for her disappointment with the police for secretly coordinating with the Marcos family in burying the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, expressed disbelief that Robredo, being a good woman, would be involved in drugs.
“Napakabait na babae ‘yung si VP tapos kasama sa droga? Paano mangyari ‘yan?” Dela Rosa said.
“As far as the police is concerned, that’s a very very improbable, far-fetched news. Out of the blue ‘yang balita na ‘yan. Bakit naman ganyan,” he said.
Dayan was arrested around 11:30 a.m. at Sitio Turod, Barangay (village) San Felipe, San Juan, La Union. The operation was conducted by CIDG-La Union, and the provincial police offices of La Union and Pangasinan.
From La Union provincial police, he will be transported to the PNP headquarters at Camp Crame where Dela Rosa will present him to the media at 4 p.m.