Sen. Leila de Lima (left) stresses a point during a press conference. On Nov. 23, 2016, De Lima said the claims of Ronnie Dayan (right) that she received drug money from Kerwin Espinosa were ‘absolutely untrue.’ INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON
“Absolutely untrue,” was Senator Leila de Lima’s reaction on Wednesday on her former driver and bodyguard’s allegation that she had received money from alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa.
De Lima said Ronnie Dayan was just forced to lie against her.
“Ronnie’s claim is absolutely untrue. I don’t know Kerwin and neither does Ronnie. He knows that,” she said in a text message to reporters.
READ: Dayan: Kerwin Espinosa gave ‘drug’ cash to De Lima 5 times in 2014
The senator said Dayan was no longer employed with her during the time she had supposedly received the money from the suspected drug lord.
She then cited conflicting media reports of the timeline that she had allegedly received the money. Some reports said that she received the money from Espinosa in October, November, and December 2015 while some said she got it in 2014.
“If 2015, hindi ko na tao si Ronnie,” De Lima said.
READ: De Lima finally admits romance with Dayan
“So how could I have ordered him to get money from Kerwin? Kaya lang, syempre, and as expected, napilitan na rin si Ronnie magsinungaling,” the senator added.
Dayan, in a press conference at the House of Representatives Tuesday night, claimed that he received money from Espinosa five times and gave it to De Lima when she was still justice secretary.
“I received money from Kerwin. I received money as instructed by Ma’am. She was still justice secretary at the time,” he said. CBB
RELATED VIDEO