Ronnie Dayan, the former driver-turned-lover of Senator Leila De Lima revealed he received undetermined amount of cash from Visaya’s alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa in 2014.
Dayan, who was arrested in a hilly area in San Juan, La Union, also admitted that he personally gave the cash to De Lima. Dayan, however clarified that he is not a drug user or seller or has links with other drug lords.
Dayan had been pinpointed as the alleged bagman of De Lima in the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP). De Lima has denied any links with the illegal drugs trade.
“Yung po ang utos ni Ma’am sir eh kaya sumusunod lang ako sa utos,” Dayan said. “Hindi ko po binibilang kung magkano ang ibinibigay sa akin. Linalagay ko lang po sa sasakyan at pagdating sa bahay atsaka ko inaabot kay Ma’am.”
In a statement, De Lima said she is willing to face any court to prove that accusations against her are not true.
“Gaya ng nasabi ko na, handa po akong humarap sa kahit saang hukuman para patunayan na walang katotohanan ang lahat ng ibinibintang sa akin. Wala akong tinanggap ni isang kusing mula sa kalakaran ng ilegal na droga. Sa tanang buhay ko, lalong-lalo na sa paglilingkod sa gobyerno, hindi ako nakinabang sa anumang katiwalian, dahil hindi ko po kailanman kayang talikuran ang tiwala ng sambayanan,” according to De Lima.
With Dayan’s arrest, De Lima was hoping the authorities will treat Dayan and Espinosa well. “Sa pagkakaaresto kay Ronnie Dayan, umaasa ako sa tamang pagtrato sa kanya ng mga kinauukulan. Ganoon na rin ang panawagan ko sa Pangulo para sa iba pang mga tetestigo laban sa akin katulad ni Kerwin Espinosa. Ako naman talaga ang habol ninyo. Huwag na ninyo silang pahirapan pa, mga kriminal man sila o hindi.”
Communications Assistant Secretary Marie Banaag said the arrest of Dayan “would lead to the uncovering of truth in the proliferation of drugs in Bilibid and for the guilty to be punished.”
On Tuesday night, Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa presented Dayan to members of the media at the lobby of the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame.
“He is willing to tell all during the hearing at the House,” Dela Rosa said. “He is free as a bird and we made sure he has bulletproof protection. What’s important is he is safe.”
“Magpakatatag siya (De Lima). Labanan niya ang binabato sa kanya,” Dayan told members of the media.