Senators want to ‘reboot’ Dayan’s memory with rest

Ronnie Dayan, the alleged bagman and former bodyguard-driver of Senator Leila de Lima, wasn't lying when he came up with a testimony that was inconsistent with those of other resource persons in the Senate inquiry on the illegal drug trade, Senator Panfilo Lacson said on Tuesday.

Lacson, the chair of the Senate Committee on Public Order, indicated that Dayan could still be stressed after hiding and running away from authorities  after his and De Lima's alleged involvement in protecting drug dealers came to fore.

For “humanitarian reasons,” Dayan was released from Senate custody Monday night, just hours after being cited in contempt by the public order and dangerous drugs committee.

“We advised him to compose himself. I-rest muna mind niya para maalala ang dapat maalala. I think that is a proper approach para ma-reboot ang kanyang memory kasi nalilito,” Lacson told reporters.

Dayan was escorted by the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-arms and the a SWAT team from the Pangasinan provincial police office when he left the Senate premises, said Lacson.

“Mukhang sobrang pagod. I think in due time he’ll be able to recollect,” Lacson said of Dayan.

Asked whether he thought Dayan was lying, Lacson said: “Hindi. Mukhang, ang difference sa dates, ang year, when he was shown the picture sabi niya mukhang 2015 nga. He wasn’t so sure about ang kanyang tinestify.”

Dayan had backtracked from earlier testimony that De Lima met with drug lord Kerwin Espinosa in Baguio in 2014.

He clarified during the Senate probe that the meeting took place in 2015 as claimed by Espinosa.

“I hope after having fully rested marami pa siyang ma-recall,” Lacson said.

Lacson said Dayan informed him that he would disclose more information at the resumption of the Senate committee probe.

Several senators expressed doubt that Dayan was telling the truth when he said that he only dealt with Espinosa.

Several drug lords from the New Bilibid Prison had also accused Dayan of receiving payoffs for De Lima.

De Lima, the former secretary of justice who successfully ran for a Senate seat in the last elections, has repeatedly denied any involvement in illegal drugs. —NB, GMA News