LINGAYEN—Sen. Leila de Lima’s controversial driver-lover, Ronnie Dayan, is now in a safehouse in Pangasinan

According to P/Sr. Superintendent Ronald Lee, Dayan was brought to the Police Provincial Office here Thursday night around 10:30 p.m. and later transferred to a safehouse at 2:00 a.m. the following day, Friday.

“He is okay, no more arthritis, already smiling,” he said.

Lee said, when he talked to Dayan Thursday night, the latter was surprised by the nature of questions asked by the congressmen during the inquiry but said he has more information to share.

Dayan was brought here by the Police Security and Protection Group and Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms of Congress accompanied by his wife, children and siblings.

Lee said the Dayan’s security will remain PPPO’s responsibility until congress decides to withdraw security measures although he was told Dayan will be placed under the Witness Protection Program.

Lee said the police operation of La Union Provincial Police Office ended up like “a cat and mouse chase for two nights, three days” until Ronnie Dayan got tired and contacted his relatives that he was ready to turn himself in.

“He got tired. He did not eat. He did not take a bath,” Lee said when asked to describe how Dayan looked when arrested.

He said Dayan cannot leave his safehouse without his clearance.

Lee said the separate P100,000 reward offered by a Pangasinan businessman for the information that led to Dayan’s arrest will be given to the informant who led police to his hiding place in La Union.

The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption also turned over the P1-million reward it pledged for Dayan’s arrest Thursday to the same informant.

Lee said Dayan and his wife, Neneng, have been together since Dayan was arrested in La Union Tuesday. “They casually talked to each other, like friends,” he said.

Lee clarified that it was Dayan who manifested he wanted to be under the custody of the Pangasinan police. “It cannot be called illegal detention,” he said.

Dayan’s family did not ask for police escort but Lee advised them on procedures they can observe because there could be threats on them too, he said.

The Pangasinan police will shoulder the expenses for Dayan’s and his family’s food provision while they are in their safehouse.

Meanwhile, Pangasinan Second District Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil made a manifestation during the congressional inquiry that being the father of the district and Dayan is his constituent, “it is my responsibility to ensure his safety and well-being so that his testimonies will be put to good use for justice to prevail”.

In a separate interview, Chief Inspector Joshua Maximo, Urbiztondo police chief, said he has not received any instructions about security for Dayan. (Tita Roces)

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