De Lima driver probed for punching cop

URBIZTONDO, Pangasinan, Philippines – The police chief of this town yesterday vowed to be fair in dealing with a complaint lodged against a driver of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima for allegedly punching a police officer and threatening to kill a village watchman.

Chief Inspector Wilfredo Cabanayan said charges are set against Ronnie Dayan, who allegedly fired his gun indiscriminately during an incident in Barangay Dalaguiring on Sunday.

Cabanayan said Dayan was accused of punching Ariel Hardinoza of the Alcala police station. The two, however, managed to settle the dispute amicably.

The other complainant, village watchman Budoy Palisoc, told police Dayan threatened to kill him.

Palisoc said Dayan allegedly made the threats in front of his mother when the suspect failed to find him.

He said Dayan reportedly pulled out a gun and fired it into the air.

Cabanayan said investigators recovered caliber .45 bullet shells from the crime scene.

 “The complainants should not worry. I am assuring everyone that we would be fair,” he said. 

Dayan was reportedly with two other men when the incident happened.

It can be recalled that Dayan once hogged  the headlines when jueteng whistle-blower Sandra Cam linked him romantically with the Justice secretary.

Cam’s revelation was contained in her affidavit submitted before the Commission of Appointments to oppose De Lima’s confirmation.