SENATOR Leila De Lima insisted that her former driver Ronnie Dayan only sought her "opinion" regarding the invitation of the Lower House for him to attend the probe on the illegal drug operations at New Bilibid Prison.

De Lima said it was still up to Dayan to make his own decision on whether or not to attend the investigation.

Dayan, who finally appeared in the last two hearings after being arrested, had argued that it was De Lima who told him not to attend the congressional investigations.

Both Dayan and De Lima are facing raps before the DOJ, the former for ignoring the said probes and the latter for allegedly allowing the proliferation of drugs in the state penitentiary.

De Lima was charged under Sec.5 of Republic act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, which imposes the penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of P50,000 to P10 million.

Just last week, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II revealed that De Lima's arrest warrant may be out "anytime soon."

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said any warrant of arrest against Senators are prohibited to be served during session at the plenary hall.

De Lima, who maintains her innocence, said her legal team will be filing the necessary charges against Aguirre II for tampering of witnesses and subornation of perjury before the Office of the Ombudsman. (Camille Balagtas/SunStar Philippines)