De Lima avoids confronting Dayan at Senate hearing

Sen. Leila de Lima (left) appeared before the Senate hearing on the death of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Jr. on Monday, Dec. 5, 2016, after her former aide and partner gave his testimony. INQUIRER FILES

Senator Leila de Lima appeared on Monday at the Senate hearing  on the death of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., facing her former aide and partner Ronnie Dayan, who testified about her accepting money from alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa. The senator though avoided asking questions to her former lover.

De Lima entered the Senate session hall more than three hours after the start of the hearing of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs chaired by Senator Panfilo Lacson. The session started at exactly 9 a.m.

The senator earlier said she might only join the hearing after Dayan’s testimony.
“Baka hindi. Hindi ako dadating du’n sa punto na mag-tetestify sila, especially si Ronnie Dayan. Pero mag-aattend ako ‘pag iba na, tapos na ‘yung testimony ni Dayan,” she said in an interview last Thursday.

“I just don’t want to create an atmosphere na ganu’n ulit although I trust my colleagues in the Senate that they are more professional, much more decent than their counterparts in the House especially the House committee, na you know some of them are really chauvinist, sickening sexist pigs,” De Lima said.

READ: De Lima brands some solons chauvinistic, sickening, sexist pigs

Before she came to the session hall, Dayan reiterated his claim that he collected money for De Lima from Espinosa. The senator has repeatedly denied by the senator.

De Lima and Dayan have admitted their past love affair. CBB/rga