Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre (right) and Sen. Leila de Lima —INQUIRER PHOTOS
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Thursday said Sen. Leila de Lima may be liable for immorality and concubinage for having a relationship with her driver alleged bagman Ronnie Dayan.
During the reopening of the House of Representatives probe into the proliferation of drug trade at the Bilibid, Aguirre said De Lima’s liability for immorality for committing concubinage by having an affair with a married man may bolster the disbarment cases against her.
Aguirre said De Lima is liable for concubinage for having an affair with a married man, and not adultery, which applies to a man for having an affair with a married woman.
“I believe the law violated by De Lima is the rules of court on contempt, it is an obstruction of justice on the part of the senator. About concubinage, Secretary De Lima is also guilty of immorality under the rules of court. She could be disbarred for immorality,” Aguirre said.
“As a matter of fact, the mere admission of Senator De Lima of her alliance with a married man, already constitutes immorality. And the Supreme Court is unerring in punishing this with disbarment,” he added.
He added that De Lima’s alleged public offenses take precedence over De Lima’s right to privacy and gender sensitivity.
“The right to privacy and gender sensitivity are mere private rights but violations of our criminal laws are public offenses, and it prevails over private rights,” Aguirre said.
Aguirre urged the committee to cite De Lima in contempt for trying to stop Dayan in testifying at the House probe.
Solons earlier slammed De Lima for obstruction of justice, after Dayan’s daughter Hannah Mae said De Lima ordered Dayan to hide from authorities.
READ: Solons hit De Lima for preventing Dayan from testifying | Dayan: De Lima asked me to hide after House subpoena
“The best thing to do is for this body to cite Senator De Lima in contempt requiring her to explain why she should be held in contempt of this body,” Aguirre said.
“There is that special law which says we could file it. If this would fall under obstruction of justice provision, let me study it and if warrants, we will file the necessary criminal action,” Aguirre added.
READ: Drug lord admits ordering Ragos to deliver drug money to De Lima | Dayan denies receiving money from NBI exec for De Lima
Dayan had admitted delivering money from Eastern Visayas drug lord Kerwin Espinosa to De Lima.
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 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 New Bilibid Prison.
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 Rodrigo Duterte have an ax to grind against her since she has crossed swords with the President. 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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