Dayan to testify vs De Lima in reopening of Bilibid probe
Ronnie Dayan arrives at the House of Representatives to testify in the inquiry on the alleged Bilibid drug trade. NOY MORCOSO/INQUIRER.net
Ronnie Dayan, the alleged bagman of Senator Leila de Lima, is set to testify against his former boss and lover at the reopening of the probe on the proliferation of drugs in the New BIlibid Prison on Thursday.
Wearing a jacket over a striped polo shirt, a visibly frail Dayan limped his way to his seat as he arrived around 10:30 a.m. at the inquiry by the House justice committee.
LOOK: Ronnie Dayan gets haircut for big hearing on Thursday
He was flanked by House security who fetched him from his detention room at the Legislative Security Bureau building within the congressional complex.
Before the big day, Dayan had a haircut on Wednesday while watching the Senate hearing on the killing of Albuera mayor Rolando Espinosa as the latter’s son Kerwin, said to be the biggest drug lord in Eastern Visayas, testified.
Kerwin testified before the Senate that he gave to Dayan P8 million for De Lima from his illicit drug trade to finance De Lima’s 2016 senatorial campaign.
READ: ‘She even thanked me’: Kerwin claims De Lima aware of delivered money
Kerwin said he met De Lima and Dayan in Burnham Park, Baguio City in November last year.
Kerwin said he had a photo taken with De Lima, and whispered to De Lima that Dayan already had the money.
De Lima has vehemently denied Kerwin’s testimony, and told him that she had forgiven him for his sins.
READ: De Lima to Espinosa: May God forgive you for your lies
Dayan was arrested in La Union 11:30 a.m. Tuesday after he was cited in contempt for snubbing the House of Representatives inquiry on the proliferation of drugs at the New Bilibid Prison which implicated De Lima.
READ: Ronnie Dayan arrested in La Union
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 De Lima said was a lie.
READ: Dayan admits delivering Kerwin’s money to De Lima | Dayan tells De Lima: Stay strong
Bilibid inmates who testified in the House inquiry had tagged Dayan as the one who allegedly collected millions of kickbacks for De Lima from the drug trade for her senatorial campaign.
READ: House cites Ronnie Dayan in contempt; arrest order out
De Lima has vehemently denied the allegation, pointing out that allies of President Rodrigo 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.
While De Lima has admitted having an affair with Dayan, she said that 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. CDG/rga
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