House leaders welcome Dayan's arrest
MANILA, Philippines (Philippines News Agency) — The leadership of the House of Representatives welcomed on Tuesday the arrest of Ronnie Dayan, the former security aide and alleged drug money bagman of Sen. Leila de Lima.
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said Dayan must be brought before the House Committee on Justice, which cited Dayan in contempt and ordered for his arrest last October 10 for failure to appear at the congressional inquiry into the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison.
”That’s good news. Dayan should be brought before the Committee on Justice,” Alvarez told reporters in a text message.
Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas echoed Alvarez’s remarks, noting that preparations for Dayan’s confinement will be put in place in coordination with the Philippine National Police.
”He will have to be brought before the speaker who issued the warrant for his arrest, and will testify before the Committee on Justice,” Fariñas said.
”He will be brought to the HOR and I’ve instructed [sergeant-at-arms] Gen. Detabail to prepare his place of confinement, in coordination with the PNP,” he added.
The House Justice Committee has already wrapped up its investigation on the Bilibid drug trade after 47 hours of public hearings. The committee report was also approved on October 18 that established De Lima’s culpability in narcotics trade at the national penitentiary during her stint as Justice secretary.
Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro said the investigation could reopen, especially now that Dayan has already been arrested.
“The Committee on Justice has already closed the investigation subject on the condition that upon the arrest of Dayan, it will reopen. Therefore, the possibility is that there will be a reopening of the investigation of the New Bilibid Prison drug trafficking,” Castro said.
The House justice panel has designated its subcommittee on correctional reforms to conduct further investigation on Dayan.
Meanwhile, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman feared that Dayan might be “coerced” to testify against De Lima and other culpable individuals in the illegal drug operations at NBP.
“That should make us worry and wary,” Lagman lamented.
Police said Dayan was arrested at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday in Barangay San Felipe, San Juan town in La Union.
Joint elements of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group La Union, the La Union provincial police, Pangasinan provincial police and Bacnotan police arrested Dayan.
Dayan was brought to the La Union provincial police office proper disposition. He is set to be presented to the media
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