De Lima driver snubs House, faces contempt

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives yesterday threatened to cite in contempt and order the arrest of Sen. Leila de Lima’s former driver for his failure to show up at an inquiry on illegal drug operations in the New Bilibid Prison.

The House committee on justice ordered Ronnie Dayan to explain why he should not be cited in contempt for snubbing a House subpoena that was served over the weekend.

Cebu Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia moved to cite Dayan in contempt, which was seconded by Compostela Valley Rep. Ruwel Peter Gonzaga.

The Philippine National Police served the subpoena, which was received by a certain Ernesto Florida on Oct. 1, 2016 at 3 p.m., said Misamis Occidental Rep. Henry Oaminal.

“An order shall be issued that Dayan is hereby held in contempt and an order shall be issued by the committee to be approved by the Speaker for the issuance of his warrant of arrest for him to be compelled to attend in the next hearing,” said Oaminal.

The House scheduled the next hearing on Monday.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II told philstar.com that his department does not have information on Dayan’s whereabouts, but that he has issued an appeal for him to surface.

Aguirre said in a televised press briefing that there was no need for Dayan to hide as no case against him has been filed.

Aguirre said that Dayan may be placed under the Witness Protection Program if he decides to cooperate in the investigation.

Meanwhile, former justice undersecretary Francisco Baraan III, who was also supposed to appear before the House panel, left the country for the United States last Aug. 25, according to Aguirre.

Baraan was not able to receive his subpoena as he was out of the country, he added.

The DOJ is set to present 13 witnesses that will testify that De Lima was involved in the illegal drug operations inside the NBP.

Aguirre said that the testimonies of the witnesses will be “material and explosive.”

On Wednesday, Rep. Reynaldo Umali said Dayan may be arrested if he fails to respond to their subpoena.

Speaking on dzMM, Umali, who chairs the House committee on justice, said they sent subpoenas to Dayan, Jaybee Sebastian, Joenel Sanchez and other personalities implicated in the illegal drug trade in the NBP.

“If he doesn’t show up, we will be forced to cite him in contempt, and therefore, that will begin the issuance of a warrant for his arrest,” he said.

Umali said his committee wants to wrap up the inquiry in two or three more sessions.

As to De Lima’s refusal to attend the House inquiry, Umali said the senator, as a law practitioner, should understand that it is normal for the prosecution to present “the worst side of the criminal.”

“The prosecution will present the worst side… because the criminal naman will have his or her chance to defend herself or himself,” he said.

“Practitioner naman siya, trial lawyer, ’di ba kung may kliyente ka, talagang didikdikin mo kung ikaw ay nasa plaintiff o prosecution side ka. Dapat naiintindihan niya yun as a trial lawyer or practitioner [She’s a lawyer and she knows the prosecution will do anything to pin down the suspect],” Umali added.

Umali denied that they have a preset conclusion on the inquiry, adding that there are members of the House of Representatives that can defend De Lima.