 |
Composite image of Ronnie Dayan and Kerwin Espinosa. PNP-PIO
By AJ Bolando via Philstar
|
MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) — Was the drug money allegedly intended for Sen. Leila de Lima given in 2014 or 2015?
Former driver and bodyguard Ronnie Dayan testified before the House inquiry against De Lima on Thursday where he claimed that he received money from self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa in 2014.
Dayan, who requested for legislative immunity, said that he collected money from Espinosa five times for then Justice Secretary De Lima.
"Meron po akong natanggap na pera mula kay Kerwin Espinosa para kay Secretary De Lima. Mga five times po. Ang perang ibinibigay sa inaabot sa akin, nasa paper bag na maliit. Hindi ko na po binibilang at hindi na rin sinasabi ni Kerwin kung magkano 'yun," Dayan said in his affidavit.
Dayan said that the first time he met Espinosa was in August 2014, then again in October and thrice in November.
“’Yung unang apat na pagkikita namin ni Kerwin ay sa Mall of Asia (MOA) at ‘yung panghuli ay sa Baguio naman po,” he added.
The 44-year-old former driver of De Lima said that he thought that Espinosa was an engineer and that he had no idea that he was receiving money from a drug lord.
The money was intended allegedly to fund the campaign of then Justice Secretary De Lima.
Espinosa said that he received a call from an unnamed staff member of De Lima who later identified as Dayan asking for money.
The Eastern Visayan drug lord said that it was in August 2015 when they first met at the parking lot of MOA.
He said that they met again in October 2015 on a restaurant on Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City, where Espinosa gave another P1.7 million.
Espinosa said that they only had three transactions with Dayan and the third was when they met at Burnham Park in Baguio City.
Kerwin's three meetings with Dayan departed from the driver's testimony that the two met five times.
Espinosa said he completed the P8 million protection money in February 2016 when he gave the remaining P2.3 million to Dayan at the parking lot of Mall of Asia.
Dayan already said at a press conference last Tuesday about the meeting he had with Espinosa in 2014 and later solidified his statement when he read his affidavit today.
“We saw Dayan make his statement last night even without the hearing kay Espinosa na sinasabi naman talaga nya na kinukumpirma [they met] on several occasions, 'yun lang year ang nagkakaiba: kay Dayan 2014, itong kay Espinosa, 2015,” Lacson said after their hearing yesterday. “Iyon ang sinasabi kong may pagkakaiba.”
Lacson doubted some statements of Espinosa and said that these need to be corroborated.
Former driver and bodyguard Ronnie Dayan testified before the House inquiry against De Lima on Thursday where he claimed that he received money from self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa in 2014.
Dayan, who requested for legislative immunity, said that he collected money from Espinosa five times for then Justice Secretary De Lima.
"Meron po akong natanggap na pera mula kay Kerwin Espinosa para kay Secretary De Lima. Mga five times po. Ang perang ibinibigay sa inaabot sa akin, nasa paper bag na maliit. Hindi ko na po binibilang at hindi na rin sinasabi ni Kerwin kung magkano 'yun," Dayan said in his affidavit.
Dayan said that the first time he met Espinosa was in August 2014, then again in October and thrice in November.
The 44-year-old former driver of De Lima said that he thought that Espinosa was an engineer and that he had no idea that he was receiving money from a drug lord.
Kerwin
In the separate Senate inquiry on Wedneday, Espinosa told senators the he gave a total of P8 million to De Lima through Dayan in exchange for his protection.The money was intended allegedly to fund the campaign of then Justice Secretary De Lima.
Espinosa said that he received a call from an unnamed staff member of De Lima who later identified as Dayan asking for money.
The Eastern Visayan drug lord said that it was in August 2015 when they first met at the parking lot of MOA.
He said that they met again in October 2015 on a restaurant on Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City, where Espinosa gave another P1.7 million.
Espinosa said that they only had three transactions with Dayan and the third was when they met at Burnham Park in Baguio City.
Kerwin's three meetings with Dayan departed from the driver's testimony that the two met five times.
Espinosa said he completed the P8 million protection money in February 2016 when he gave the remaining P2.3 million to Dayan at the parking lot of Mall of Asia.
Conflicting
Sen. Panfilo Lacson noticed the conflicting statements of Espinosa and Dayan.Dayan already said at a press conference last Tuesday about the meeting he had with Espinosa in 2014 and later solidified his statement when he read his affidavit today.
“We saw Dayan make his statement last night even without the hearing kay Espinosa na sinasabi naman talaga nya na kinukumpirma [they met] on several occasions, 'yun lang year ang nagkakaiba: kay Dayan 2014, itong kay Espinosa, 2015,” Lacson said after their hearing yesterday. “Iyon ang sinasabi kong may pagkakaiba.”
Lacson doubted some statements of Espinosa and said that these need to be corroborated.
No comments:
Post a Comment