Warren Cristobal's kin slam Duterte 'rumors' of alleged De Lima affair

Relatives of the man that President Rodrigo Duterte identified as the new boyfriend of Senator Leila De Lima belied the allegation, saying the issue has affected their family.

GMA News sought out the home of Warren Cristobal, a former Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) employee who now works on the staff of the senator.

Duterte earlier identified a certain Warren, who used to work in the MMDA, as De Lima's new boyfriend. The president had earlier alleged that De Lima had an affair with her former driver Ronnie Dayan, and linked them to the illegal drug trade.

Duterte said Warren was not involved in any illegal activities.

But Cristobal's family said there was no truth to Duterte's pronouncement about a supposed De Lima affair, saying all it has done is affect the staffer's wife and kids.

"Sana itong balita na ito maayos na wala naman katotohan. Bata naapektuhan sa school, tinutukso," said Luisa Maniquis, Cristobal's aunt, in a report by Bernadette Reyes on 24 Oras.

Cristobal is visible in a 2014 video of then-Justice Secretary De Lima taking the ice bucket challenge, being one of those who poured water on De Lima.

Jinggoy's Facebook

Former senator Jinggoy Estrada, who is detained for plunder over charges filed by the DOJ under De Lima, posted a picture of vehicles supposedly owned by Cristobal on Facebook.

"Ang tanong ko kay Leila ikaw ba ang bumili ng mga sasakyan ni Warren? Mga jeep, kotse, at motorsiklo," the post read.

A car similar to the one posted by Estrada was parked in front of Cristobal's house. But his relatives denied that it was given by the senator.

"Hinuhulugan niya noon pa 'yan, wala pa siya kay De Lima," said another relative, Ernesto Maniquis.

A friend of Cristobal said he also owns a jeepney but stressed that it was not from the senator.

"Chismis lang 'yon. 'Di totoo 'yon wala naman talaga...iisa jeep, dating jeep nila 'yon, '80s pa 'yon," Rody Geronimo said.

De Lima earlier denied that Cristobal was her boyfriend, saying that she has no "love life" as of the moment. —John Ted Cordero/JST, GMA News