Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson believes that Ronnie Dayan, former aide of Senator Leila de Lima, will divulge more information at the resumption of the Senate hearing on the killing of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.
Lacson made this observation after the Senate public order and dangerous drugs committee allowed Dayan to go home after being cited for contempt and briefly detained.
“After a briefing with him last night at the office of Sen. (Vicente) Sotto III with (Sen. Gringo) Honasan, we agreed that, since he promised he will make himself available we will just allow him to go back home,” Lacson said.
The senator said Dayan was escorted back to Pangasinan, together with his wife and children who were also at the Senate.
“We advised him to compose himself, to rest his mind so that he can remember the things he’s supposed to remember. I think that’s the proper approach to help reboot his memory because it’s clear he is getting confused,” Lacson told reporters.
Dayan was cited for contempt by Sen. Manny Pacquiao for allegedly lying to the senators on how he got to know Kerwin Espinosa, a suspected drug lord and son of the slain Leyte mayor.
Lacson said Dayan wanted to say a lot of things during Monday’s proceedings but he had no opportunity to do it.
“If there would be another hearing, I’m sure he would reveal some more information,” he said.
Lacson said they are convinced that Dayan is having a hard time recollecting the transactions and activities he had with De Lima when he was still working under the former Department of Justice (DoJ) secretary.
Both De Lima and Dayan have admitted they were in a relationship for seven years.
At the fourth hearing into the Espinosa killing, Dayan finally had the chance to testify before the Senate and face off with Kerwin Espinosa to whom he collected the R8-million protection money and campaign funds for De Lima.
After insisting the exchange of money happened in 2014, Dayan was forced to agree with Kerwin’s testimony it transpired in 2015, after he was shown a photo of De Lima together with the younger Espinosa and his wife taken on Nov. 19, 2015 that was uploaded on Facebook.
“I think he’s so tired. I think in due time he’ll be able to recollect…I hope after having fully rested marami pa siyang ma-recall,” he said.
“Sabi niya noong tumakbo siya, he stayed under water, chest-deep sa river for so many hours, nakababad katawan niya tapos hanggang pagod na pagod na, he just sat there and waited for the pursuing PNP (Philippine National Police) elements and just surrendered, resigned to being captured,” the senator narrated.
Asked if Dayan can recall if he and De Lima went to Leyte during those times to campaign, Lacson said the witness said yes.
“May na-recall siya na namasyal sila sa Leyte during those times. Sabi ko, sige isipin nyo mabuti ano mga lakad ninyo na di mo maalala,” he said.
He won’t, however, divulge information Dayan offered during the meeting saying he would let the witness reveal this in the next hearing.
“Mabuti na rin yan ang approach di lang human psychology sa emotion ng tao. Bigyan din ng kaunting leeway. May kasabihan even a rat when cornered will fight back,” added Lacson. (HANNAH TORREGOZA)