(Eagle News)– Ronnie Dayan’s testimony at the House inquiry on Thursday (November 24) exposed discrepancies between his statement and of alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa about the handing of drug money for Senator Leila De Lima
Espinosa on Wednesday claimed before a Senate panel that he gave De Lima P8 million for her senatorial campaign, through her then driver-bodyguard Dayan from August 2015 to early 2016.
Espinosa explained that in exchange for the drug money he gave to De Lima, he will receive protection from the senator, who was then incumbent Secretary of Justice.
Contrary to Espinosa’s claim were Dayan’s, saying that the exchange of money between him and Espinosa happened in 2014.
Dayan said Espinosa handed him money for De Lima once in August 2014, once in October 2014, and three times in November 2014.
The first four of their meetings allegedly happened at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
Dayan added the last time Espinosa gave money was in a parking lot of the place where he was staying in Baguio City.
Dayan said Espinosa checked in at the place on November 19, 2014, and he met with De Lima three days later or on November 22, 2014.
Dayan said he was always alone whenever he would meet with Espinosa.
During interpellation, Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin voiced out the discrepancies between Dayan and Espinosa’s affidavits.
Dayan reiterated that all his meetings with Espinosa happened in 2014.
“Sa February 2015 [na sinabi ni Espinosa], wala na po ako doon, resigned na po ako noon [as De Lima’s driver-bodyguard],” explained Dayan.
Dayan said he was already in Pangasinan in February 2016, the month that Espinosa said he made his last delivery of cash.
Espinosa had claimed that the first delivery of cash happened on the fourth floor of the SM Mall of Asia parking lot.
However, Dayan said the delivery at the parking lot was already their fourth meet-up.
Dayan and Espinosa also had conflicting statements about the venue of their meeting in Baguio City.
Espinosa said he pulled over just behind Dayan’s car at the parking lot of the Burnham Park.
In contrast, Dayan said the money was handed to him at the parking lot of Alexandria Residences where Espinosa was staying.
Dayan said he and Espinosa met up five times, while Espinosa said they met only four times.
Dayan also claimed he knew Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido, whom Espinosa claimed as the middleman who introduced him to Dayan.