Ronnie Dayan testifies during the House probe on the alleged Bilibid drug trade. NOY MORCOSO/INQUIRER.net
Ronnie Dayan, the alleged bagman of Senator Leila de Lima, on Thursday admitted that he openly supported the presidential candidacy of Rodrigo Duterte while he campaigned for De Lima in Pangasinan.
Testifying before the House of Representatives justice committee probe into the alleged drug trade, Dayan said he campaigned for both De Lima and Duterte in Pangasinan.
Dayan said he set up campaign posters in Pangasinan using sacks of rice with the names of De Lima and Duterte painted on the surface.
READ: Dayan recounts ‘breakup’ with De Lima
Dayan said he plastered these makeshift posters on top of each other on posts.
“Sa Pangasinan kasi, may mga sako na plain lang. Bumili kami ng pintura, isusulat lang ‘Duterte for President.’ Tapos sa taas si Mr. President, sa baba si Senator De Lima,” Dayan said.
(In Pangasinan, there are plain sacks of rice that we paint with the words “Duterte for President,” and below that the name of Senator De Lima.)
When asked if De Lima was aware that he was supporting her staunch rival, Dayan said the senator slapped him after seeing that Dayan was even wearing a Duterte baller.
“Nung huling huli ako na may suot akong baller ni Presidente Duterte dito sa kamay at paa nung nakita niya, ‘Pak!’ pinalo niya ako dito,” Dayan said, pointing at his face and neck.
(When she caught me wearing a baller of President Duterte on the wrist and ankle, “Bam!” she slapped me in the face.)
Asked why he was wearing a Duterte baller in the first place, Dayan said of Duterte, “Idol namin sa Pangasinan (He is our idol in Pangasinan),” to the jeers of the audience.
Dayan said De Lima cursed him after she found out that her boyfriend was a supporter of Duterte.
“Maka-idol ka rin lang, sira-ulo pa (Why would you choose a crazy fool for an idol?)!” Dayan quoted De Lima as saying, rousing laughter from the audience.
“Ang sagot ko naman po, walang basagan ng trip (My response was, mind your own business)!” Dayan said.
It was at this point that De Lima cursed him, Dayan said. “P****** ka! (Son of a b****)!” Dayan quoted De Lima as saying.
Dayan had admitted delivering money from alleged Eastern Visayas drug lord Kerwin Espinosa to De Lima amid their romantic relationship.
He has said he gave drug money from Espinosa to De Lima at least five times in 2014. Espinosa, however, said he gave De Lima at least P8 million in 2015 for the justice secretary’s senatorial campaign.
READ: ‘She even thanked me’: Kerwin claims De Lima aware of delivered money | Dayan admits delivering Kerwin’s money to De Lima
Dayan was arrested in La Union around 11:30 a.m. last Tuesday after he was cited in contempt for snubbing the House of Representatives inquiry on the proliferation of drugs at the New Bilibid Prison implicating 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 the senator 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 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.
De Lima has admitted having an affair with Dayan but said both of them were separated from their spouses at the time. De Lima has also expressed fear Dayan might be forced to testify against her. RAM/rga
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