A HOUSE leader said Sunday the immunity granted to Ronnie Dayan, the former lover and alleged bagman of Senator Leila de Lima, could be revoked if he gave false testimony, as some lawmakers expressed doubts about his claim that he never met or knew any of the drug lords that traded illegal drugs in the New Bilibid Prison.
“The lawmakers want to revoke the immunity granted by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez because Dayan did not tell the truth and did not cooperate. He should not be accepted in the Witness Protection Program,” House Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro told dzBB in an interview.
Castro accused Dayan of lying when he denied knowing suspected big-time drug lord Kerwin Espinosa and the people whom De Lima met inside the national penitentiary when she was still Justice secretary.
“It was very clear that Dayan was trying to protect himself and De Lima’s interest. He and De Lima had seven-year relationship and the debt of gratitude was deep. He obviously was trying to protect De Lima,” he said.
Castro said he and other lawmakers could not believe that Dayan, as opposed to the testimony by several drug lords and inmates, did not know any of those whom De Lima met at the NBP when she went there to hold meetings.
“We have to remember that Dayan did not only serve as De Lima’s driver. He was also her close-in security and bodyguard. It would be impossible for Dayan not to know who his boss was dealing with because that was part of his job—to secure De Lima considering that she was surrounded by criminals and his boss was there precisely to fight the proliferation of illegal drug trade,” Castro said.
“Dayan could face trouble for not telling the whole truth during the hearing,” he added.
Castro said once the House committee on justice determined that Dayan lied in his sworn affidavit and during his testimony, the driver-bodyguard could be charged with perjury.
The deputy speaker also said he did not believe Dayan’s testimony that he did not know Espinosa, the self-confessed drug lord.
“It was unbelievable that he would not try to find out who he was meeting with and did not even bother to ask how the person looked like,” Castro said.