Dayan stressed out by arrest

URBIZTONDO, Pangasinan, Philippines – It’s like a death sentence and he is stressed out, but his tears have dried and he is ready to face his fate.

This was how Ronnie Dayan, the former driver and lover of Sen. Leila de Lima, described himself after he was arrested on drug charges by police here last Thursday night on orders of the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC).

Dayan was picked up by local police armed with the arrest warrant at his home in Sitio Aplaya, Barangay Galarin in this town.

He told local journalists while undergoing booking procedures that since attending the congressional hearings on the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), he had been constantly under stress.

Dayan said he had restless nights thinking about his fate and took his mind off his problems by tending his corn farm.

Dayan managed to smile as his mug shot was taken and he was talking to the media.

“My tears were dried up this afternoon with my relatives,” he said, referring to the time they learned about the issuance of the arrest warrant. “I told them this is it and I have to face it.”

Dayan said he was clinging to prayers to overcome this challenge. He likened his arrest to certain death, as there is no bail for the charges he is facing.

Even if he were granted bail, Dayan said he did not have the money for it.

Prosecutors allege that De Lima, as justice secretary during the presidency of Benigno Aquino III, received payoffs from convicts running drug trafficking operations at the NBP to finance her senatorial campaign.

The payoffs were allegedly solicited by Dayan.

Dayan denied being a power broker when he worked for De Lima.

He claimed he even had to distance himself from De Lima because many wanted to seek his help.

Dayan said he had no more communication with De Lima since the time he went into hiding to avoid the hearings in Congress.

He was found in a farm in a remote village in La Union in November last year.

After appearing in congressional and Senate hearings, Dayan was brought back to his hometown in Urbiztondo.

Since then, Dayan said he kept himself abreast of developments mainly by watching the news on television.

He said he had expected his arrest warrant would be issued soon so when the news broke that the Muntinlupa court had issued the warrant, he was not surprised.

He then gathered his family and told them that he would surrender and had full trust in the police. “I leave everything to God,” he said.

Dayan was temporarily detained at the Urbiztondo jail before he was brought to the Muntinlupa RTC yesterday.

He appeared before the court an hour after De Lima.

The court committed Dayan to the custody of the Muntinlupa City police where he was separated from other detainees for his safety.

Dayan, in an interview over GMA-7, admitted he is a bit worried for his safety.

“I hope nothing happens to me,” he said.

Dayan became emotional upon his arrest, saying he would no longer have time with his children and grandchildren.

“I think it will be a long time before we see each other again,” he said. – Emmanuel Tupas