Advice to Dayan leads to criminal charge vs. De Lima

Justice Department says senator violates law for snubbing Congress summons

Lawmaker is also facing four drug trafficking complaints with the DOJ for allegedly benefitting in the illegal drug trade in the national penitentiary during her tenure as justice secretary

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a criminal complaint against Sen. Leila de Lima for stopping her former security aide from testifying before the House of Representatives justice committee.

De Lima was indicted for violation of Article 150 of the Revised Penal Code— disobedience to summons issued by the national assemble, its committee or subcommittee—before a Quezon City court.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed by Speaker Pantaleon Al- varez, Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Fariñas and House justice panel chair Reynaldo Umali.

The complainants said de Lima’s advice to Ronnie Dayan, her former security aide, to snub the congressional inquiry is equivalent to “inducing disobedience” to summons issued by the Congress.

Article 150 imposes a penalty of one month up to six months in prison or a fine of up to 1,000, or both, to individuals who has been duly summoned to appear before Congress and its panels but ignore the order.

On Nov. 24, Dayan told the committee that de Lima stopped him from testifying in the congressional inquiry into the alleged proliferation of illegal drugs inside the New Bilibid Prison, Muntinlupa City.

In a text message from de Lima coursed through Dayan’s daughter, Hannah Mae, the senator told Dayan that the subpoena was only issued by the House Speaker as directed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

De Lima is facing four drug trafficking complaints with the DOJ for allegedly benefitting in the illegal drug trade in the national penitentiary during her tenure as Justice Secretary.