Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II believes that Senator Leila de Lima’s admission of her relationship with her former driver and alleged bagman Ronnie Dayan will strengthen their case against the former justice secretary.
The DOJ is currently conducting a preliminary investigation on De Lima’s alleged involvement in the illegal drugs trade at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
De Lima made the admission during a television interview aired Sunday night.
“Hindi niya masasabi na lahat ng sinabi ko noong una ay kabulastugan o gawa gawa ko lamang, nga-yon siya na mismo ang nag-admit na ’yung dating tinatanggi relasyon nila ay totoo pala,” Aguirre said.
Meanwhile, Aguirre said that he has instructed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to get a copy of the interview since it can be used as evidence against her in court.
“Yung pag-admit niya, gumaan ang trabaho ng prosecution at bumigat ang pagdepensa nya sa sarili nya,” he said.
De Lima is also facing a disbarment case filed by the Victims Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), former NBI deputy directors Reynaldo Esmeralda and Ruel Lasala, and whistleblower Sandra Cam before the Supreme Court (SC).
“Wala nang dapat i-prove ’yung mga complainants sa disbarment sapagkat lumalabas na talagang siya’y naki-apid sa taong may asawa,” said Aguirre.
Aguirre said Dayan, who has a warrant of arrest against him, is being protected by Pangasinan officials.
“Doon nagtatago iyan sa North eh and he’s protected by big time politicians doon sa Pangasinan and other Northern Luzon provinces,” said Aguirre. (Aaron Recuenco)