Dayan denies getting money from ex-BuCor chief for De Lima

Ronnie Dayan on Thursday denied receiving money from former Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos that was supposedly meant for his former boss, Sen. Leila de Lima.

In his testimony before the House justice committee, Dayan said he first met Ragos while the latter was still an official at the National Bureau of Investigation.

Dayan said Ragos used him as "tulay [bridge]" so he could get a promotion.

"Pero iyun pong salaysay ni Sir Ragos na sinasabi niyang ako daw ang tumatanggap ng P3 million, P5 million, 1.6 million na pera ay hindi po totoo. Hindi po ako tumatanggap kay Sir Ragos ng ganung halaga," said Dayan.

In his testimony before the same House panel in September, Ragos claimed delivering money to De Lima's residence in Parañaque City twice on November 24 and December 15, 2012. In both deliveries, Ragos claimed handing over P5 million.

Ragos claimed he was greeted by Dayan, at the gate of the house while De Lima was waiting in the front door. Ragos said Dayan received the money contained in a black bag.

In his own testimony, Dayan, however, claimed there were two instance when he saw Ragos handing something to De Lima ("nagkabigayan").

"Sa unang beses, nakita kong  nag-abot siya kay ma'am (De Lima) ng envelop, hindi ko rin po alam kung pera ang laman nun," said Dayan.

"Tapos sa pangalawang bigay niya kay ma'am, isang plastic na bag na may lamang parang kahon ng sapatos pero hindi ko alam kung ano ang laman nun kasi parang style sapatos din ang laman kasi. Basta nakita ko lang na inabot ni Ragos kay Secretary de Lima nung time na yun," added Dayan.

During his testimony at the House last October 6, 2016, Bilibid inmate and former PO3 Engelberto Durano, Batang Cebu Brotherhood (BC45) member, claimed to have personally handed to De Lima P1.5 million placed inside a gift-wrapped shoe box.  — RSJ, GMA News