Former driver and alleged bagman of Sen. Leila De Lima, Ronnie Dayan underwent booking procedures and press briefing at the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame following his arrest in La Union.
Philippine National Police chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa presented Dayan to the press who had given the following statements.
On De Lima Romance
Dayan confirmed the rumored romantic affair with then Justice Secretary De Lima which lasted for seven years.
“Totoo po may relasyon kami (It’s true we had a relationship), seven years.”
He said that he started working for De Lima as her driver and bodyguard in 2007 when she was still in her private law firm.
Later after he was booked, Dayan spoke again at a press conference in the House of Representatives that ‘they lived in the same house.’
He said that they broke up in 2014, which was also the last time they talked to each other.
On Drug Money
Dayan clarified that he did not receive money for himself, rather just delivered money from alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa to De Lima five times in 2014, before she decided to run as senator.
“Wala akong tinatanggap na drug money sa mga drug lords… Kay Kerwin meron… meron ako natatanggap para kay senadora po.”
[Translation: I was not receiving drug money from drug lords… I had received (drug money) from Kerwin for senator (De Lima)]
However, Dayan said he had no knowledge of the amount of drug money he delivered because all he did was deliver it to the De Lima’s house.
On Drug Use
Dayan was firm to say that he never used drugs, in contrast of his heavy involvement in the controversial narcotics trade.
“Never po ako… nag-take ng drugs never ako nagbenta ng drugs. Talagang ayaw ko ng drugs na yan.”
[I never take drugs, I never sell drugs. I really dislike those drugs.]
He went on to say that his involvement are nothing but fabricated stories.
“Yung pagkakadawit sa akin sa drugs gawa-gawa lang po nila yun.”
Dayan also said that he quit working for De Lima in 2015, a year before the 2016 elections when De Lima ran for office.
De Lima on Dayan
Meanwhile, De Lima admitted her past romantic relationship with Dayan who had long been separated from his wife, saying the relationship lasted for a ‘few years.’
“We became so close. That’s it. I trusted him. Siyempre, naano po ang loob ko.”
But De Lima still denied the alleged drug money payoffs.
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