Senator Leila de Lima’s former aide and partner on Monday claimed to have recommended the appointments of an official of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and a former head of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).
“Dadalawang tao lang po ang nirekomenda ko po sir na naaprub ni Secretary noon (I recommended two people who were approved by the secretary),” Ronnie Dayan said when he testified for the first time before the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs on the November 5 killing of Albuera, Leyte Rolando Espinosa.
“Si Rafael Ragos po, sir, ng NBI at saka si Director Bucayu ng Bilibid,” he said, responding to queries of Senator Manny Pacquiao.
Dayan was referring to NBI Deputy Director Rafael Ragos and ex-BuCor Director Franklin Bucayu.
Before this, Dayan told the committee that he started working as De Lima’s bodyguard in 2007, around the same time he said they also started having an affair.
“Kailan nag-start yung relasyon niyong dalawa (When did your relationship with De Lima start)?” Pacquiao asked.
“Around 2007 din po,” Dayan said.
“So ibig mong sabihin pagpasok mo, niligawan mo agad (As soon as you got hired, you courted her)?” the senator asked.
“Hindi naman po agad-agad sir, hindi naman po agad-agad (No, not immediately),” Dayan said.
Pacquiao then asked about a rumor on the influence the former aide had when De Lima was Secretary of the Department of Justice.
“May mga abogado na nagsasabi siga ka daw doon, tinatapik mo lang daw sa sikmura ‘yung mga abogado (Some lawyers say that you’re intimidating back then)?” the senator said. But the former aide denied it.
“Hind totoo? Ang lakas mo raw. ‘Pag nagrekomenda ka, kung sino ang nirekomenda mo kay DOJ Secretary noong araw, aprub daw kaagad ‘pag ikaw ang nag-rekomenda, totoo ba yan (Is it not true? You were powerful. When you recommended someone to the DOJ Secretary in the past, it was approved immediately, is that true)?” Pacquiao asked again.
It was at that point that Dayan mentioned the names of Ragos and Bucayu. JE/rga