Aguirre: Dayan no-show at DOJ

DEPARTMENT of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II yesterday said that Sen. Leila de Lima’s former security escort Ronnie Palisoc Dayan did not show up and did not submit his affidavit for inclusion in the government’s Witness Protection Program (WPP).

“(I have) not yet received any message that Dayan will go to DOJ to file his affidavit for WPP,” he told reporters.

Aguirre said Dayan had promised to return to Manila yesterday, according to her lawyer, because Dayan misses his family in Pangasinan where he was brought after his testimony last week before the House’ committee on justice to begin the formal processing of his application.

Aguirre also said that alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa is also supposed to file his affidavit for WPP application.

”According to Kerwin’s lawyer they are going to make a motion with the court who issued the warrant of arrest to allow the transfer,” he said.

For Dayan’s part, Aguirre said he is a free man and he could go anywhere he wants to go and nobody could compel him to go to the DOJ.

“The two did not go to DOJ but the DOJ is interested that the two would see them because here we are offering the services of WPP, if they don’t it’s ok, very good,” Aguirre explained.

Espinosa and Dayan are ex- pected to disclose information that could link de Lima to the proliferation of the illegal drugs trade in the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

Earlier, Aguirre placed Espinosa and Dayan under provisional WPP coverage in exchange for revelations that could pin down government officials, including de Lima, who are allegedly involved in the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country.

Aguirre said that Espinosa and Dayan would be given security protection following their testimonies in the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively, pending review and approval of their eligibility as state witnesses.

Determination

Aguirre said the sworn affidavits that will be evaluated and studied will determine if they are qualified to become a state witness and placed under the WPP free from criminal prosecution.

“For them to qualify as state witnesses for WPP coverage, they must appear to be not the most guilty in the crimes charged,” he said.

The DOJ chief further explained that while the two could be used as state witnesses, it would be the court that will decide if they would be granted immunity from indictment in the drug charges.

Witnesses under WPP who die would also be given death benefits, including free college education to their children.