House inquiry on drugs dwells on De Lima affair

AFTER hiding for months, Ronnie P. Dayan — the former aide and alleged bagman of former justice secretary and now Senator Leila M. de Lima — faced the congressional probe for the first time and was made to recount his confessed affair with the public official, while Mr. Dayan also sought to dispute allegations of his involvement in the drug trade.

The House committee on justice, headed by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo V. Umali, resumed its inquiry on the illegal drugs trade at the national penitentiary, although it had already concluded this investigation in October and a committee report has been approved in the plenary.

In his opening statement, Mr. Umali lamented the failure of Ms. de Lima “to attend the hearing which shows her lack of respect to a co- equal chamber,” adding that this is inconsistent with her mandate.

Upon the recommendation of the Justice committee, House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez granted Mr. Dayan immunity from suit as far as his testimony before the House committee is concerned.

Mr. Dayan narrated that he applied as driver-bodyguard of Ms. de Lima in 2007 and became her security aide starting 2008 when she was appointed to head Commission on Human Rights and in 2010 when she became justice secretary.

In about two to three months after being hired as Ms. de Lima’s driver- bodyguard in 2007, Mr. Dayan said they were by then in a relationship — which lasted for seven years and ended under a cloud of argument and jealousy when he learned she had a new “boyfriend,” motorcycle escort Warren Cristobal.

Prodded by lawmakers about this affair, Mr. Dayan described it as having dropped to “Signal Number 1” from “Signal Number 5.”

When asked why he turned against Ms. de Lima, he said she did not return his feelings.

Following the House probe, Mr. Dayan had his daughter Hannah Mae seek advice from Ms. de Lima, who allegedly suggested he go into hiding.

At this point, Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo C. Fariñas expressed concern this could signify obstruction of justice on Ms. de Lima’s part.

Mr. Fariñas said the committee will hold an executive session to discuss whether to cite Ms. de Lima for contempt.

Moving on to the alleged drug transactions, Mr. Dayan admitted he received money from confessed drug lord Rolando “Kerwin” E. Espinosa, Jr. five times from August to November 2014, but maintained he was not aware that the money came from drugs, adding that he thought Mr. Espinosa was an engineer.

Their first four meetings in 2014, Mr. Dayan said, were at the Mall of Asia, where Espinosa personally handed the money allegedly for Ms. de Lima. —

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