(Eagle News) – Ronnie Dayan, the controversial former driver-bodyguard of Senator Leila De Lima, has this advice for his former boss and lover: “Stay strong.”
In a press conference at the House of Representatives Tuesday night, Dayan advised the former justice secretary to fight all the accusations hurled against her.
Before this, Dayan was told of De Lima’s concerned appeal for him when she learned of his arrest, asking authorities to spare him and to treat him well.
Amid guffaws and hoots from the audience, Dayan suddenly turned sheepish when he was asked about his message to De Lima.
“Magpakatatag siya, labanan niya ang binabato sa kanya (She should be strong, and fight the allegations thrown at her),” he said.
While Dayan denied he received money from drug lords, he admitted, however, that he got money from Kerwin Espinosa, a suspected drug lord in Eastern Visayas, and son of slain Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa. He said he received money from Kerwin five times in 2014 upon De Lima’s instructions.
Kerwin is set to testify Wednesday morning (November 23) at the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame Quezon City where he is being detained for safekeeping.
During the presscon Tuesday night, Dayan said he felt hurt when De Lima failed to even contact him, or text him during the time that he was hiding from authorities.
“Never siyang kumontak sa akin. Ni isang text wala akong narinig sa kanya (She never contacted me, never did I receive even a text from her),” said Dayan who admitted his feelings were hurt by this.
Dayan said he even asked a family member to text De Lima and ask for some financial help.
“Pinatext ko sa anak ko na humingi ka ng pinansyal (na tulong) dahil halos di na ako makakain, di niya nirereply-an yung anak ko,” he said, recalling De Lima’s silence on his plea for help.
He said this was when he was first subpoenaed by the House committee on justice probing the proliferation of illegal drugs at the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP). The subpoena was issued early October 2016.
Asked if he was able to watch all the live proceedings held in Congress, he said he wasn’t able to monitor all of them.
And when he was asked if he would testify against De Lima on Thursday, Dayan turned evasive.
I will just answer whatever is asked of me,” he said in Filipino.
-Dayan contradicts De Lima claim on death threats —
Dayan also denied De Lima’s previous claim that he called her up allegedly to tell her that he had been receiving death threats.
“Wala naman po,” he said, referring to the alleged death threats he had been receiving as claimed by De Lima.
House of Representatives chairman of the House justice committee Rep. Rey Umali said Dayan would be assisted by a counsel of his choice when he testifies on Thursday, November 24.
Dayan admitted he was still nervous during the press conference at the House of Representatives where lawmakers presented him to the media.
“Medyo kinakabahan pa kasi bagong huli, may karamdaman pa kasi halos di ako makalakad,” he said when asked how he was feeling.
Dayan said he would ask for immunity when he testifies at the House inquiry on Thursday.
But Umali said they would still have to assess Dayan — if he is willing to tell the truth and reveal all that he knows on Thursday.
For now, Dayan said he needs to gather his strength and prepare for the Nov. 24 hearing.
A medical doctor would also do a check-up of him in Congress.
Dayan has admitted his illicit relationship to De Lima, saying their affair started in 2007 and lasted for seven years.
