House panel orders arrest of Ronnie Dayan for failure to attend hearing

A House committee on Monday ordered the arrest of a former security aide of Senator Leila de Lima for contempt due to failure to attend the resumption of the hearing on the alleged proliferation of illegal drugs inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

The members of the House justice committee voted to hold Ronnie Palisoc Dayan in contempt.

Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas said that during the last hearing, they moved to cite Dayan in contempt but he moved that the latter be given a chance to explain his failure to appear despite notices. 

“Now, we are in receipt, we already have a return of the show cause order that was duly received by Paul Edward Dayan on October 8 directing him, Ronnie Palisoc Dayan, to explain in writing within 24 hours from receipt why he should not be held in contempt pursuant to our rules,” he said. 

Fariñas said that since the hearing has been televised and Dayan has been duly informed of the invitation for him to attend and he still failed to do so, “it is obvious that Dayan refuses without any justifiable excuse to heed the summons subpoena duly sent by the Speaker.”

“Now, I therefore move that we cite Ronnie Palisoc Dayan in contempt and that he will be ordered brought or arrested and brought to this committee to give his testimony,” Farinas said. 

The committee members voted in favor of Farinas’ motion.

Rep. Doy Leachon, justice committee vice chairman, then said that Dayan is being held in contempt by the committee and corresponding an arrest warrant be issued against him to compel his presence to testify as regards the materiality of the allegations against him to ferret out the truth on the matters.

Dayan is accused of receiving drug money for the campaign kitty of De Lima. He is also being romantically linked to the former justice secretary. — RSJ, GMA News