House to summon De Lima’s ex-driver

MANILA, Philippines - As part of its upcoming investigation into drug trafficking by inmates in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), the House of Representatives will summon Sen. Leila de Lima’s former driver Ronnie Palisoc Dayan.

President Duterte, who described Dayan as De Lima’s lover, claimed the driver collected payoffs from NBP convicts engaged in the illegal drug trade when De Lima was campaigning for the Senate.                             

“For the sake of transparency and accountability, we will invite those who are suspected of being involved in the drug trade at NBP, even if it includes the driver of De Lima,” said Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, who also chairs the House appropriations committee.

Dayan has reportedly gone into hiding.

Deputy Speaker Raneo Abu told reporters in a news conference the House committees on justice and on public order and safety can start with the issuance of subpoena to Dayan.

No date has been set for the investigation.

“We can also invite all the other past directors of the Bureau of Corrections,” the Batangas congressman said.

He explained the House resolution calling for a probe on the issue clearly states the chamber can subpoena “other heads of law enforcement agencies.”

Abu said he wanted to dig deeper into reports that a shabu laboratory was established inside the NBP in 2014, or during De Lima’s watch as justice secretary.

It was also during the period that the illegal business operations of convicted drug lords Peter Co and Herbert Colangco reportedly expanded.

Deputy Speakers Gwendolyn Garcia and Sharon Garin said it would be up to De Lima to decide whether to attend the House probe.

For Abu and Nograles, it would be best for De Lima to show up and clear her name.

The administration legislators brushed aside allegations they are being partisan, insisting an investigation in aid of legislation is needed to craft a law that can help authorities better address the drug problem inside the national penitentiary.

“The role of the NBP is to keep the inmates inside. Something went wrong so we have to investigate. We have to find out,” Garin said.

She also suggested that De Lima be invited as a “resource speaker and not as a senator” as it would be “voluntary on her part” to attend hearings.

Garcia said she is concerned about what appeared to be a weak system within the Bureau of Corrections, which is supervising the NBP. The DOJ has jurisdiction over both agencies.