Presidential Security Group member Joenel Sanchez, a former security aide of Sen. Leila M. de Lima, yesterday confirmed the romantic relationship between her and former bodyguard Ronnie Dayan.
Sanchez also confirmed the existence of two sex videos of De Lima and Dayan.
Sanchez, who worked for De Lima from July 2010 to May 2015, testified before the House Committee on Justice investigating the alleged illegal drugs trade at the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City that De Lima had a relationship with Dayan who they called “Boss” and a godfather of his youngest child.
De Lima and Dayan were tagged as among those involved in the illegal drugs trade at the national penitentiary.
He said he was “shocked” when he saw the videos showed by De Lima’s driver, “Bantam,” to him from the phone of Dayan in 2012 who had left his phone inside the car which was parked inside the Malacañang compound.
“Nagulat po ako nang ipinakita ni Bantam sa akin ang video ni SoJ (Secretary of Justice) De Lima at Ronnie Dayan na may dalawang sex video,” Sanchez said. “Nailang po ako sa aking nakita at hindi ko na tinapos panoorin. Naging biruan na lang namin ang nasabing video,” Sanchez, reading his September 30 sworn statement, said.
Sanchez said he noticed the “closeness” and “sweetness” between De Lima and Sanchez. “Kalaunan nakumpirma ko na may relasyon ang dalawa dahil si Ronnie Dayan ay sa bahay ni SoJ De Lima natutulog. Maging sa mga out-of-towns na lakad namin, silang dalawa ay magkasama sa iisang kwarto,” he said.
“Madalas din kaming pumupunta sa bahay ni SoJ De Lima sa Bicol at kapansin pansin ang sweetness nila. Habang kami ay bumabyahe papuntang probinsya, sila po ay nagsusubuan ng nilagang saging na saba,” Sanchez said.
De Lima had denied that she had sexual relations with Dayan.
Sanchez said they also accompanied De Lima to Dayan’s house in Urbiztondo, Pangasinan and she stayed in his house from last week of December to New Year.
He said when they go grocery shopping, De Lima would buy Dayan his “favorite” brand of alcoholic drink and cigarette, Fundador and Marlboro, respectively.
“Binilhan din ni SoJ De Lima si Ronnie Dayan ng barong, sapatos, at mga personal na gamit hanggang tahasan nang ipinagmamayabang ni Ronnie Dayan ang relasyon nila ni De Lima,” he said. Sanchez said since then, Dayan was boasting of his relationship with De Lima.
However, Sanchez said a certain “Warren Cristobal,” a former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority personnel, who joined De Lima’s security team in the first quarter of 2015, became “a threat” to Dayan and became a reason for the fall out between De Lima and Dayan.
He said De Lima terminated the services of Dayan in March 2015 because they had been fighting about Cristobal.
“Pinagseselosan ni Ronnie Dayan si Warren Cristobal. Mula noon, si Warren Cristobal na ang tumatayong security aide at driver ni SoJ. Sa kanya na rin kami tumatanggap ng instructions at orders mula kay SoJ. Kapansin pansin din ang closeness ni Warren Cristobal at SoJ kung kaya’t nagduda kami na may special na relasyon ang dalawa,” he said.
(CHARISSA M. LUCI)