No case filed yet vs De Lima driver

URBIZTONDO, Pangasinan, Philippines – Due to lack of witnesses, no charges have been filed against a driver of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima who was accused of punching a policeman and threatening to kill a village watchman in Barangay Dalanguiring here.

Chief Inspector Wilfredo Cabanayan, town police chief, told The STAR yesterday that the complaint supposed to be filed against Ronnie Dayan lacks substance.

 “We have the alleged evidence – bullet shells – but that is not enough to establish probable cause. There are no witnesses to support the complaint,” Cabanayan said. 

He said he told the complainants, Rolando Palisoc Calugay – earlier identified in the report as Budoy Palisoc – and his mother Percilita that they could file the complaint with the evidence at hand and could look for witnesses later.

 Dayan, reports said, threatened to kill Calugay in front of his mother.

 Calugay, a barangay watchman, told Cabanayan that witnesses are hesitant to come forward for fear of their lives.

“It’s up to them if they can produce witnesses. Dayan and Palisoc are relatives and live in the same barangay,” Cabanayan said.

He said Dayan’s middle name is Palisoc.

The police official said the bullet shells were submitted for cross matching.

The shells were believed to have come from a caliber .45 pistol that Dayan allegedly fired indiscriminately when he made the threats.

The police chief said they would verify the owner of the gun and its license, noting the permit to carry firearms outside residence in Pangasinan remains suspended.

He said there is a possibility that Dayan would send someone to settle the matter amicably with Calugay as they are relatives.

“Based on our investigation, the complainants are proud of Dayan for his achievements. It appeared the incident was due to the influence of liquor,” Cabanayan said.

Reports gathered by the police showed it was Dayan’s companion who fired the gun.

During the incident, Dayan reportedly punched police officer Ariel Hardinoza of the Alcala town police. The two settled the matter amicably after a talk at the police station.