LINGAYEN, Pangasinan: Ronnie Palisoc Dayan, former driver, lover and bodyguard of Sen. Leila de Lima, will
stay in a safe house at undisclosed place in Pangasinan.
This was learned from the Pangasinan police director, Senior Supt. Ronald Oliver-Lee, after Dayan and his family arrived at the provincial police office around 10:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Dayan was released by the House of Representatives after his much-awaited testimony on his and de Lima’s alleged involvement in illegal drugs on Thursday, escorted by armed policemen and House security officers.
Dayan, accompanied by his wife Norilyn and their daughter Hanna Mae, alighted from a white Toyota van and were received by the staff of the provincial police.
A few minutes later, a medical team from the provincial health office led by Dr. Ana de Guzman arrived. Dayan was checked by a male physician.
Lee received Dayan in the presence of journalists and his family after the medical checkup at about 2:00 a.m. of November 25. He was then transferred to the safe house.
Dayan was said to be in good physical condition when he was turned over to Lee by Sr. Insp. Jack Casi chief of the Police Security and Protection Group of Camp Crame and House security.
Lee said Dayan would be under his custody until the Department of Justice issues an order transferring him to the witness protection program.
Dayan, Lee said, told him he was not yet finished revealing all the “secrets” of de Lima, and was ready to tell all once invited by the Senate, which is also conducting a probe into the illegal drug trade.
Dayan and his family will have day-and-night security escorts provided by the Pangasinan police, Lee said.
“I am the one to be blamed if Dayan is assassinated, so I have to secure his safety and his family as I know his life is under threat and in danger,” Lee told newsmen.
Senator Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Senate committee on dangerous drugs, said Dayan could be invited to the panel’s next hearing.
“We are considering inviting him if only to clarify some inconsistencies in his and Kerwin’s testimonies on the dates and other circumstances,” Lacson said, referring to Rolando “Kerwin” Espinosa Jr., the alleged Eastern Visayas drug kingpin who claims to have given P8 million in protection money to de Lima through Dayan.
Dayan, in his testimony before the House inquiry, claimed that he met Espinosa five times to pick up cash on behalf of De Lima in 2014. He said most of the payoffs were done at the parking lot of the Mall of Asia and one in Baguio City, but he was not aware that Espinosa was a drug dealer.
Espinosa claims the meetings happened in 2015.
Robredo hits ‘slut-shaming’
Also on Friday, Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo warned lawmakers against perpetuating obscenity and harassment on women, after making a laughingstock out of the affair between de Lima and her former driver and boyfriend, Dayan.
Robredo, a lawyer, said the lawmakers’ line of questioning constituted harassment, and was not in aid of legislation.
Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro asked Dayan if his relationship with de Lima was meant to satisfy lust, while Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas asked if de Lima and Dayan slept in the same room.
Ang Edukasyon party-list Rep. Salvador Belaro asked about de Lima and Dayan’s anniversary, the “intensity” of their love and when they reached climax. Not to be outdone, Kabayan party-list Rep. Harry Roque quizzed Dayan if he felt he took advantage of de Lima.
“What happened was totally unnecessary. Bastos na talaga ang iba [Others were really perverse]. There were questions irrelevant to the case. It is a form of harassment,” Robredo told reporters.
“These questions have no relevance to the investigation. It’s just slut-shaming. It’s perversion,” Robredo, a former Camarines Sur representative, added.