De Lima reticent after fall of Dayan

Senator Leila Delima during the Senate inquiry on Extra Judicial Killings on Monday. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ/Philippine Daily Inquirer

Senator Leila De Lima. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Spare in her words, Sen. Leila de Lima said Tuesday she could think of various scenarios behind the fall of Ronnie Dayan, her former driver and lover implicated in the drug trade.

De Lima did not want to respond when the media caught up with her Wednesday afternoon, less than three hours since Dayan was taken into custody.

READ: Ronnie Dayan arrested in La Union

But she gave brief answers, responding when asked if she was OK: “What do you think?”

Asked if she believes Dayan was arrested or was under duress, De Lima said: “Anything is possible. I have various scenarios in mind.”

She said her office would issue a statement later in the day.

President Rodrigo Duterte had implicated De Lima and Dayan in the drug trade sometime in August, saying they had benefited from the drug trade in the national penitentiary. De Lima has repeatedly denied the claims and said she had not been in contact with Dayan, for former driver and bodyguard, for months.

In an interview aired last week, De Lima had admitted to economist and host Solita Monsod that she and Dayan were in a relationship, citing “frailties of a woman.” Her camp later clarified that the relationship happened when both had separated from their spouses.

READ: De Lima finally admits romance with Dayan

Read more...