(Eagle News)– The House of Representatives on Wednesday (September 28) finally signed the subpoenas for Ronnie Dayan, the former driver-bodyguard of Senator Leila de Lima, and two others summoning them to give their testimonies on the alleged proliferation of illegal drugs inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
Aside from Dayan, the two others issued subpoenas are former Bureau of Corrections director Franklin Jesus Bucayu, and former Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) executive director Reginald Villasanta.
Committee chair Rep. Reynaldo Umali explained to reporters that inmate Jaybee Sebastian will also be summoned but will no longer need a subpoena since his civil rights are already deferred.
“His civil rights are suspended. He is under the custody of the NBI, the Bureau of Corrections and the Department of Justice so when we directed the DOJ to do that, they have every means to bring them to the hearing,” Umali said.
“A subpoena is not even necessary but if the secretary (of Justice) would insist on a subpoena (then we will issue it). But the position of this committee is it is not necessary,” he added.
Sebastian was among those who were wounded in a stabbing incident inside NBP’s Building 14, where convicted drug lord Tony Co died due to his injuries.
High-profile inmates Peter Co and Vicente Sy were also injured.
The resumption of House hearings is set on October 5.
(Rex Felix C. Salvador I, Eagle News Service)