MANILA - (UPDATED) Ronnie Dayan, Senator Leila de Lima's former driver, on Tuesday night admitted to receiving money from alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa on behalf of the former justice secretary.
"Kay Kerwin...meron akong natatanggap para kay senadora po," Dayan said at a press briefing in the House of Representatives.
He said he turned over money from Kerwin to De Lima five times in 2014, or 2 years before the 2016 elections.
"Hindi ko po binibilang magkano inaabot sa akin," he said, adding the senator must have been aware of what was handed to him.
(I don't count how much is handed to me.)
"Natural. Sigurado alam niya dahil siyempre titingnan niya iyun," he said.
(Naturally. I'm sure she knows it's money because she would have to look inside the package.)
Dayan was arrested by authorities in La Union on Tuesday. He went into hiding after being accused of receiving drug money from Bilibid inmates meant for De Lima's 2016 senatorial campaign.
But De Lima's former driver denied being involved in illegal drugs and getting money from crime lords in the New Bilibid Prison as alleged by the convicts who served as witnesses in the House justice committee hearings.
He said he has never even met any of the convicts who claimed to have turned over money to him.
Dayan also said he has never used or sold illegal drugs.
"Talagang ayaw ko ng drugs na 'yan. Yung pag dawit sa akin sa drugs, gawa-gawa lang yun, hindi po totoo yun" he said.
(I really don't like drugs. That attempt to link me to drugs, that's fabricated. That's not true.)
Dayan is set to testify in the House inquiry on the alleged narcotics trade inside the New Bilibid Prison, where he is expected to ask for immunity from lawmakers conducting the probe.
When asked what prompted him to come forward, he said he'd rather say at the hearing on Thursday.
"Yung mga nagsabi, never ko po nakita yang mga iyan sa Bilibid," he said.
"Di ko pa po masasagot," he said.
(I can't answer that yet.)
Meanwhile, Dayan said he will seek immunity from lawsuit from Congress. House Justice Committee Rey Umali said his panel will take on Dayan's request.
He encouraged Dayan to speak the truth, adding he will tap the services of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) in providing legal assistance to Dayan when getting his testimony.
Dayan admitted he still is nervous since he just got arrested and is suffering from some ailments. He added he is preparing to face the hearing on Thursday.
NO CONTACT WITH DE LIMA
Dayan said he has some misgivings with De Lima whom he has not contacted since the controversy about them broke.
Dayan said he heard nothing from the lady senator after he instructed his child to message her for financial assistance.
He said he cannot recall the last time he has talked to De Lima, but hinted this was about the same time the House summoned him to the hearing.
Dayan promised to explain why he went into hiding during the House hearing, but refused to answer whether he will protect De Lima in his testimony.
He also denied receiving any death threats.
House sergeant-of-arms Roland Detabali said he is considering two detention areas at the Batasan Pambansa premises for Dayan, adding he is mindful that he has coughs and colds.
Detabali assured the public Dayan will stay in the premises until further orders from the Committee on Justice.
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