Former staffer admits depositing funds for De Lima’s ex-driver

A former staffer of Senator Leila De Lima confirmed on Friday that in several instances, he deposited money in the account of her ex-driver Ronnie Dayan.

Jonathan Caranto, in his affidavit submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), said there were at least six instances that he can recall where the senator ordered him to deposit funds in Dayan’s Landbank account.

“Noong nalipat na ako sa DOJ, paminsan minsan inuutusan ako ni Sec. De Lima na magdeposito  ng pera sa Landbank account ni Ronnie at ito ay nagkakahalaga ng P20,000 hanggang P60,000 (When I was transferred to DOJ, I was sometimes ordered by Sec. De Lima to deposit money in Ronnie’s Landbank account which amounted from P20,000 to P60,000),” he said in his affidavit.

Caranto said he is a distant relative of Dayan. He said he was hired at the DOJ on Dayan’s recommendation.

In the same affidavit, he also denied having over P24-million bank account at Banco De Oro.

Caranto was mentioned in President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug matrix.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said he was surprised when he learned that Caranto works at his office.

Aguirre said he talked to Caranto and asked him if he is willing to clear his name to which he agreed.

Caranto then went to the NBI and executed an affidavit.

He also underwent a lie detector test and passed.

“Yan ang mark ng (That the mark of an) honest witness,” Aguirre said.

Aguirre said they are still in the process of verification of the deposit slips and the source of the funds given to Dayan.

“We are at the initial stage of investigation,” Aguirre said but noted that the information is pouring from various sources. RAM/rga