Leila’s driver-bodyguard faces arrest

Ronnie Dayan, the driver-bodyguard of Sen. Leila de Lima when she was secretary of justice, may face arrest for snubbing a subpoena from the House of Representatives and failing to explain his action.

“If he does not submit a justifiable reason for his failure to comply with the subpoena issued to him, the committee on justice will cite him in contempt,” Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas said yesterday.

“Under our rules, contempt of the committee is contempt of the House. We will file a criminal case against him for indirect contempt and the court may issue a warrant for his arrest,” he said.

The committee on justice is looking into the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison.

The committee summoned Dayan and some witnesses to its hearing last Thursday, but Dayan did not show up.

Mindoro Oriental Rep. Reynado Umali, committee chairman, has ordered Dayan to explain his absence or be cited for contempt.

As of yesterday, Umali said he has not heard from Dayan.

“We are not really expecting him to respond or appear in our inquiry,” he said.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has accused Dayan of collecting money from convicted drug lords serving time in Bilibid for De Lima’s senatorial campaign in last May’s elections.

The former justice secretary has denied receiving drug money directly or indirectly.

Dayan and his former boss had a close personal relationship, according to witnesses presented by Aguirre, including Joenel Sanchez, a member of the Presidential Security Group who had been detailed with De Lima.

De Lima has admitted that she and her driver were close but refused to give further details, saying it was a personal matter. It was already over, she added.

Members of the Umali committee said they hope to finish their inquiry at Monday’s hearing.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez earlier said he believed the committee has gathered enough information to craft remedial legislation.

“Our inquiry is in aid of legislation. It is not intended to prosecute Sen. de Lima or anyone,” he said.