Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — All ears are on the testimony of Ronnie Dayan, as he answered questions about Senator Leila De Lima’s alleged links to the illegal drug trade.
On Thursday, Dayan admitted to the House Committee on Justice that he accepted money deliveries for De Lima — from suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa — when she was still Justice Secretary.
Dayan is De Lima’s former driver and bodyguard — and both admitted to having had a romantic relationship for seven years, despite Dayan being married.
Dayan said De Lima herself instructed him to fetch money deliveries. He pointed out, however, he does not know where the money came from and how much he was receiving for her.
“Nung nagdedeliver ka ng pera, alam mo ba saan galing yun at anong transaksyon yun,” Ako Bicol party list Rep. Alfredo Garbin, Jr. asked Dayan. [When you’re delivering money, do you know where it came from and from what transaction it was?]
“Hindi po sir. Basta inuutusan lang po ako ni Ma’am na may kukunin po ako sa kanya,” Dayan answered. [No sir. Maam only instructs me that I’m getting something for her.]
Dayan also refuted Espinosa’s claims that they met and that he accepted money from Espinosa a few months before the 2016 elections.
He said it’s quite impossible — since he was no longer working for De Lima during the period of time mentioned by Espinosa.
Also read: Dayan: De Lima knew I was married when we had a relationship
Garbin pointed out that, based on Espinosa’s sworn affidavit in the Senate probe on Wednesday, Espinosa met Dayan and gave him money in tranches totaling to P8 million, from 2015 to February 2016 for De Lima’s campaign funds.
Garbin also noted, Espinosa claims he met Dayan four timeswhile Dayan said he met Espinosa five times.
But Dayan said he already stopped working for De Lima in 2015.
“Yung sa February 2015 sir wala na po ako doon. Nag resign na po ako doon,” Dayan said. [In February 2015, I’m not working for her anymore. I already resigned then.]
Dayan added, he doesn’t know Albuera Police Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido, who allegedly introduced Espinosa to Dayan when they were allegedly raising campaign funds for De Lima.
“Di ko po sya kilala sir,” Dayan said. “Wala pong katotohanan yan sir.” [I don’t know him sir. There’s no truth to it sir.”]
Also read: Dayan: De Lima urged me to skip probe, hide
Dayan also refuted claims that he collected money from drug lords inside the New Bilibid Prison (the national penitentiary) for De Lima’s campaign funds when she ran for the Senate.
Lawmakers asked Dayan if he knows former Bureau of Corrections Chief Rafael Ragos, NBI Agent Jovencio Ablen, former PO3 Engelberto Durano, and convicted robbery gang leader Herbert Colangco. They are all previous witnesses at earlier House hearings, who testified that Dayan collected drug money for De Lima.
Dayan denied knowing all of them except for Ragos.
“Dinideny ko po lahat yan sir… Si Ragos lang po ang nakakahalubilo ko,” Dayan said. [I’m denying knowing all of them, except for Ragos who I’m really familiar with.]
After all the inconsistencies in Dayan’s and Espinosa’s statements, Garbin said one of them may be lying.
But Dayan is firm, he knows alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa and he did receive money from him that he then gave to De Lima.
