Dayan counters Kerwin: Espenido did not introduce us

Ronnie Dayan on Thursday denied that Albuera police head Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido introduced him to alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa.

“Walang katotohanan ‘yan,” Dayan said when asked by AKO Bicol party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. if he indeed called Espenido to link him to Espinosa.

Dayan further said that he has not even met and talked to Espenido yet.

“Hindi ko po kilala yan [Espenido], Sir,” Dayan told the House justice committee during the resumption of its hearing on the prolifeation of illegal drugs at the New Bilibid Prison.

Espinosa, in his sworn affidavit read during the Senate hearing on Wednesday, said it was Espenido who introduced him in August last year to Dayan.

Espinosa claimed that when he was in Anilao, a popular diving site in Batangas, he received a call from Espenido who told him that a driver-bodyguard of De Lima, then Justice Secretary, wanted to talk to him.

Moreover, Espinosa said he received a phone call from Dayan, during which Dayan reportedly told Espinosa that De Lima was looking for funds for her senatorial campaign.

But Espenido, during this hearing, denied Espinosa’s allegation.

Asked by Senator Richard Gordon to comment during the Senate hearing on Wednesday about Espinosa's claim, Espenido said: "Hindi ko kilala 'yun [Dayan]."

Dayan is the former driver-bodyguard and alleged bagman of Sen. Leila De Lima.

De Lima has repeatedly denied any involvement in illegal drug operations. — RSJ, GMA News