Ronnie Dayan, former driver and bodyguard of Sen. Leila de Lima, presented at the PNP HQ, Camp Crame.
INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON
Ronnie Dayan, the former driver, lover and alleged bagman of Senator Leila De Lima, would be a “free man” after giving his testimony in the House of Representatives inquiry into the alleged proliferation of drugs at the New Bilibid Prison.
Unless, of course, a case would be filed against him for his alleged involvement in the drug trade, according to Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, the chairman of the House justice committee conducting the probe.
“He’s a free man because wala naman siyang kaso eh (he has no case).. Kung wala yun (If there is none), he’s a free man, unless there is a warrant of arrest,” Umali in an interview with reporters said.
Umali said the House only served the arrest warrant after it cited Dayan in contempt for not showing up in the House probe on the alleged Bilibid drug trade.
Umali said Dayan spent the night with his wife and family in his detention room housed in the Legislative Security Bureau within the House of Representatives complex.
READ: Dayan brought to House of Representatives for custody
A photo from the House sergeant-at-arms showed that Dayan had a haircut Wednesday morning while watching the Senate hearing into the testimony of Kerwin Espinosa, the alleged biggest drug lord in Eastern Visayas.
During the turnover by the police to the House of Representatives Tuesday night, Dayan admitted receiving drug kickbacks from Espinosa for De Lima, an allegation the lady senator said was a lie.
READ: Dayan admits delivering Kerwin’s money to De Lima | Dayan tells De Lima: Stay strong
Dayan has also admitted to having a relationship with De Lima that lasted seven years.
Umali said Dayan would execute an affidavit for his testimony in the reopening of the House probe Thursday morning.
The congressman said Dayan was provided with two lawyers Manny Buenaventura and Abeth Reyes from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.
READ: Dayan on ‘L’affaire’ De Lima: We had a relationship for 7 years
Umali said the invitation for De Lima to attend the hearing remains in force, calling on the besieged senator to clear her name and not hide behind parliamentary courtesy.
“The House in the plenary expressed its lament over the abuse over the much abused term of parliamentary courtesy. While we apply this unbeaten rule, your complication as a public servant, as required by the Constitution, the public trust, yun dapat manaig rito (that should prevail),” Umali said.
Umali said De Lima should also respect the powers of the lower House to conduct investigations even if it implicates the former justice secretary.
“When you talk about interparliamentary courtesies, it also goes with respect for a co-equal branch of government. Respect also means recognizing the powers of a co-equal branch. Mas maganda siguro yun (It would be better) if she can come and participate,” Umali added.
READ: Ronnie Dayan arrested in La Union
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 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 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. RAM
RELATED STORIES