Dayan wants to go home, but solons suggest PNP custody

Driver/bodyguard Ronnie Dayan arrives at the Congress during the hearing on illegal drug trade in National Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

Now that he is a free man, Sen. Leila de Lima’s former driver and boyfriend Ronnie Dayan on Thursday expressed his desire to return to his hometown of Pangasinan after he testified in the congressional inquiry into the drug proliferation at the national penitentiary.

Dayan, who was cited in contempt for snubbing the previous House justice committee hearings, was arrested last Tuesday in La Union and placed under House custody.

READ: Ronnie Dayan freed from House custody

“Gusto ko muna po munang umuwi sa amin, kung pwede po sana merong proteksyon kahit ihatid lang muna ako sa amin,” Dayan said.

“Diyos na ang bahala, naubos na po ang takot ko,” he added.

The committee moved to release Dayan on Thursday after his testimony, but some members expressed concern for his safety.

READ: ‘Dayan a free man after inquiry unless there’s arrest warrant vs him’

Dir. Gen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said the Philippine National Police (PNP) is willing to handle Dayan’s security but noted that it should come with a “willfull request” from the latter since the police do not have the right to hold him in their custody.

Rep. Vincent Crisologo said he thought the committee is responsible to look after Dayan since they were the ones who ordered him arrested in the first place. Crisologo advised Dayan to seek PNP custody until “things cool down.”

Citing sources from the Department of Justice, Leyte Rep. Vicente Veloso said there were threats against Dayan’s life.

“I’m not saying that these threats are true, but don’t you think something bad might happen to you once you’re not in Congress custody?” Veloso told Dayan.

Echoing his colleagues, Pangasinan Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil said it would be best if Dayan would seek refuge in the PNP for the meantime, adding that there should be a proper chain of custody on the part of the Congress.

“I trust the PNP whatever measures they will undertake to secure Mr. Dayan. I believe he will be secured under the chief PNP and his men. That is my belief. For the Congress I think there should be a proper chain of custody of our resource person. That is my input as far as the security of Mr. Dayan is concerned,” Bataoil added. RAM/rga

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