Bato: Dayan not pressured to become ‘friendly witness’

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said the police did not pressure Ronnie Dayan, alleged bagman of Senator Leila de Lima, to become a “friendly witness” in the congressional hearing on the illegal drug transaction in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) after his arrest on Tuesday.

“We (did) not exert undue duress or pressure upon him. Kita niyo walang gasgas. Hindi siya sinaktan, tinakot, ni-psywar. Magsasabi lang siya nang katotohanan,” Dela Rosa said in a press conference at Camp Crame.

Dela Rosa presented Dayan to the media following his arrest in San Juan, La Union before noon Tuesday.

Dayan, wearing a bulletproof vest, a white shirt and shorts, was ordered arrested by a House committee for contempt due to his failure to attend several hearings.

Dela Rosa said Dayan, who allegedly collected money for De Lima from drug lords inside NBP, is willing to tell all when he faces lawmakers in the next hearing.

“I told him, you can either be a friendly or hostile witness, it depends upon your choice kung anong gusto mo but he told me he’s going to be a friendly witness… Lahat ng tatanungin sa kanya sa Kongreso ay sasagutin po niya base sa katotohanan,” Dela Rosa said.

Asked if the police influenced him to implicate certain personalities, Dayan said: “Wala (None).”

Chief Supt. Gregorio Pimentel, regional director of the Ilocos Region police, also quelled rumors that Dayan’s arrest was a set up.

“His arrest is a product of one month and 12 days of continuous police operation. Sinuklay namin ang buong bundok. He ran out of place to hide and then finally the long arm of the law caught him,” Pimentel said.

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