Ronnie Dayan living normal life at Pangasinan safehouse —police

Police on Saturday said that Ronnie Dayan, the alleged bagman of Sen. Leila de Lima, is living a "normal" life in his safehouse in Pangasinan province.

A report by Mav Gonzales in Balitanghali on Saturday said that Dayan, De Lima's former driver-bodyguard, has started to recover from arthritis.

Dayan suffered from arthritis, which he said prevented him from running away from authorities, leading to his arrest in La Union province last week after four months of hiding.

"Nakaka-relax na siya, nakakatulog na siya ng maayos. Nakikita naman doon sa itsura niya na nagkakaroon siya ng kulay," said Pangasinan Police Provincial office director Senior Superintendent Ronald Lee.

In a photo released by the Pangasinan Police District, Dayan could be seen smiling and clutching a guitar with a "Duterte" sticker on it.

Lee said that the guitar was owned by a member of the security team for Dayan and that he borrows it once in a while.

The police official added that they have also provided Dayan a videoke machine in his safehouse.

"Meron din siyang videoke. Yung amenities niya as if yung sa normal na bahay," said Lee.

In an earlier report, authorities said that Dayan was not being illegally detained. Dayan willingly went with the police and requested to stay in Pangasinan, his hometown.

Dayan's wife and children are also able to visit him in the safehouse.

Lee said that his family follows the security procedures, describing them as quiet and undemanding.

However, Dayan's 80-year-old mother Solded Dayan has yet to see him.

Soledad said that she had mixed feelings when Dayan was arrested and presented to the House of Representatives' inquiry on the alleged drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison.

"Parang malungkot, masaya, nakita ko yung anak ko sa TV. Payat siya. Naaawa ako sa anak ko, matagal nang hindi ko nakita," she said.

Dayan had testified during the House justice committee's hearing that he received drug money from suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa for De Lima.

She also revealed that she had personally met De Lima, because the senator used to visit their family.

"Pumupunta rito at saka kasama ng anak ko. Sinabi niya na mag-boyfriend sila. Ganyan lang," she said.

She maintained that his son was innocent. "Walang kasalanan siya," she said. —Jessica Bartolome/ALG, GMA News