Stay strong.
This was the message of Ronnie Dayan to his former boss and lover Senator Leila De Lima although the former harbors ill feelings after his arrest by the police on Tuesday.
During his turnover by the police to the House of Representatives on Tuesday night, Dayan was asked for his reaction to De Lima’s statement that she hoped authorities would take care of him.
READ: De Lima: Spare Dayan, other witnesses and treat them right
Looking frail in shorts and slippers, the haggard looking Dayan said he felt bad that De Lima did not answer his plea for help.
“She did not contact me…I receive no text message from her. She did not answer my appeal for financial help and I went hungry,” Dayan said.
Asked what he felt when De Lima offered no help, Dayan said: “I felt quite bad.”
READ: De Lima: I don’t know Espinosas
For seven years, Dayan said he and De Lima lived together.
When asked for his reaction to De Lima’s statement appealing to authorities to take care of him, Dayan blushed as reporters, lawmakers and police murmured that De Lima seems to still have concern for him.
READ: Dayan admits delivering drug money from Kerwin to De Lima
Dayan said he hopes De Lima would withstand the criticisms hurled against her.
“Pakatatag siya (She should stay strong). Labanan niya yung mga (nakakaaway niya) (She should fight on) ,” Dayan said.
Dayan also admitted delivering drug kickbacks to De Lima at least five times from Eastern Visayas drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, but denied he received drug money from the Bilibid drug lords.
Dayan had also admitted having a seven-year long relationship with De Lima.
READ: Dayan admits love affair with De Lima
Dayan was arrested 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.
The arrest warrant was duly signed by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, the closest ally in Congress of President Rodrigo Duterte.
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 to fund her senatorial bid.
READ: House cites Ronnie Dayan in contempt; arrest order out
De Lima has vehemently denied the allegation, pointing out that allies of President 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.
But De Lima has admitted to having an affair with Dayan, but said both of them were separated from their marriages at the time. De Lima has also expressed fears Dayan might be forced to testify against her.
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