House panel issues show cause order against de Lima

THE House committee on justice has issued a show cause order against Sen. Leila de Lima for her alleged attempt to stop her former driver Ronnie Dayan from testifying in the previous congressional probes.

Congressman Rey Umali yesterday granted the motion ordering de Lima to explain why she must not be cited in contempt for obstruction of justice when she allegedly texted Dayan not to attend the congress hearing on drug proliferation.

The motion was made by ABS Party-list Rep. Eugene Michael de Vera.

De Vera said that for fairness, the House must also hear the explanation of de Lima on why she had prevented Dayan from testifying.

“Since the testimony of Ronnie Dayan pertains to the fact that Senator de Lima prevented him from testifying before this committee and in the interest of fair play, let us hear first the senator,” said de Vera.

Dayan, during the hearing, said he was discouraged by the senator to attend the inquiry amid the subpoena issued by the House panel.

Dayan said he asked her daughter to get advise from the senator through text, and he said de Lima then replied: “Don’t let him attend... we will just be made laughing stock.

The former lover of de Lima said the senator instead advised him to continue hiding.

The House committee probing the issue had earlier invited de Lima as a resource person in the inquiry as she was the then-justice secretary. The request, however, was snubbed by the senator.