Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — For failing to show up at the House probe of illegal drug trade at the national penitentiary, the Justice committee gives Ronnie Dayan — Sen. Leila de Lima’s former driver/bodyguard — 24 hours to explain why he should not be cited for contempt and eventually arrested.
This developed after the committee on Thursday evening had earlier ruled to cite Dayan for contempt but this was reconsidered after
Majority Leader Rudy Fariñas said that the subpoenaed witness should be given a chance to explain first why he was a no-show.
De Lima had previously said that Dayan was in hiding after receiving threats.
During the day’s hearing, witnesses claimed that Dayan used to collect drug money from inside the Bilibid.
Five witnesses or resource persons faced lawmakers on the third day of the drug proliferation probe.
Another of De Lima’s former aide, Joenel Sanchez, testified that the now lady senator and Dayan had an intimate relationship.
“Si Ronnie Dayan ay sa bahay ni SOJ (Secretary of Justice) De Lima natutulog. Maging sa mga out-of-towns na lakad namin, silang dalawa ay magkasama sa iisang kwarto,” Sanchez said.
[Translation: Ronnie Dayan would sleep in the house of SOJ De Lima. When we go out-of-town, they both sleep in the same room.]
Sanchez added that De Lima’s driver, a certain Bantam, showed him two sex videos of De Lima from the cellphone of Dayan.
Meanwhile, former policemen and convicted murderer Engelberto Durano, claimed he personally gave de Lima ₱1.5M — placed in a gift-wrapped shoe box during one of her visits at the Bilibid.
Another convict, Joel Capones claimed he was asked by top Bilibid drug lord Jaybee Sebastian to sell illegal drugs to fund the senatorial campaign of De Lima.
Convicted criminal Nonilo Arile claimed he was an asset of former CIDG officer Jerry Valeroso.
In a letter sent to President Duterte and PNP Chief Bato dela Rosa, Arile detailed the drug trade inside the Bilibid and enumerated the biggest players involved.
Also testifying before the House probe, Valeroso confirmed that Arile was his asset. He added the drug trade inside Bilibid continued — but now, operations are inside the Medium Security Compound.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice also wanted to present as witness former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agent Ferdinand Marcelino.
The congressmen, however, voted to not allow him to speak because he had a pending case and said that his testimony would have nothing to do with the issue at hand.
Related: Duterte rejects talking to Sebastian
As for Jaybee Sebastian, who had also been subpoenaed, the committee hopes to have him in attendance by the resumption of the hearing on Monday.
Sebastian’s doctor had explained that his patient was still recovering from injuries sustained during a stabbing incident at the Bilibid last week.
CNN Philippines’ Joyce Ilas contributed to this report.
