SENATOR Leila De Lima’s former driver and lover Ronnie Dayan may opt to remain under the custody of the Philippine National Police while covered by the government’s Witness Protection Program, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Thursday.
He made the statement after Dayan was transferred to the custody of Police Chief Roland Dela Rosa in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Aguirre said he was told that Dayan still wanted to apply for WPP coverage but requested to stay in Camp Crame for his safety.
Witnesses under the Witness Protection Program are normally given a safe house and security from the National Bureau of Investigation.
“It’s better that he stays with General Bato [Dela Rosa] because he’s much safer there,” Aguirre said.
He said there was nothing wrong with such set-up as long as Dayan qualified for WPP coverage.
Earlier, Aguirre said Dayan would need to come up with another affidavit and tell everything he knew about the illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison before he could be covered by the program.
He said he believed that Dayan was very careful in his testimony last week before the House of Representatives and obviously had been evading self-incriminating statements.
As for the other key witness, alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, Aguirre said he specifically requested to be placed under the Witness Protection Program.
Espinosa, the alleged drug lord who admitted giving P8 million to De Lima, has remained under police custody while a court order is being secured for his transfer to WPP custody.