Dayan held in contempt as de Lima brands ‘ lies’

UPON A motion by Senator Manny Pacquiao, the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs chaired by Senator Panfilo Lacson cited Ronnie Palisoc Dayan, the former driver and lover of Senator Leila De Lima, in contempt for not telling the “whole truth.”

In his manifestation, Pacquiao said many inconsistencies in Dayan’s testimony are simply so damning. “I am citing you in contempt for not telling the whole truth,” Pacquiao said.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III technically seconded Pacquiao by amending his motion to keep Dayan inside Building 14 of the National Bilibid Prison, where high-profile inmates including drug lords are incarcerated, until he tells the whole truth.

“In the meantime [ that we have not finalized your] detention, the Office of the Sergeant-At-Arms (OSAA) will take you into custody,” Lacson said.

The chief of the OSAA, retired General Jose Balajadia, confirmed to Interaksyon.com that Dayan is now being held inside the Senate holding room located near their office at the ground floor of the building.

“As usual, nasa holding area siya,” Balajadia told INTERAKSYON.

LACSON EXPLAINS CONTEMPT

During the hearing, Lacson explained to Dayan in Filipino the power of the panel to jail him under the Rules of Procedures Governing Inquiries in Aid of Legislation.

“Any member can cite you in contempt for testifying falsely or evasively,” Lacson said.

The senator cited Section 18, which states: “Contempt – ( a) The Chairman with the concurrence of at least one ( 1) member of the Committee, may punish or cite in contempt any witness before the Committee who disobeys any order of the Committee or refuses to be sworn or to testify or to answer a proper question by the Committee or any of its members, or testifying, testifies falsely or evasively, or who unduly refuses to appear or bring before the Committee certain documents and/ or object evidence required by the Committee notwithstanding the issuance of the appropriate subpoena therefor. A majority of all the members of the Committee may, however, reverse or modify the aforesaid order of contempt within seven ( 7) days.” — interaksyon.com