MANILA - Ronnie Dayan, the former bodyguard and driver of Senator Leila de Lima, has not left the country and may be hiding near Pangasinan, the province's top policeman said Thursday.

"Wala kaming balita na siya ay nakalabas na ng bansa. Marami kaming nakukuhang impormasyon na andito lang siya sa Pilipinas at and'yan po siya sa mga karatig-probinsya," Pangasinan police director Senior Supt. Ronald Lee told radio DZMM.

[We have no news that he has left the country. We have information that he is still in the Philippines and is hiding in the neighboring provinces of Pangasinan.]

Dayan, according to President Rodrigo Duterte, was De Lima's lover and former driver. He has not been seen in public since the President linked him to the illegal drug trade in August.

De Lima, 7 others charged with drug trafficking

An arrest warrant has been issued against Dayan after he failed to appear in the House inquiry on the illegal drug trade in New Bilibid Prison.

Policemen on Tuesday launched a search operation on the two houses of Dayan in Urbiztondo town, including his "white house," an alleged gift from De Lima.

"May report po kasing nakakarating sa amin na siya ay andoon lamang sa Urbiztondo at nagpapalipat-lipat po siya sa mga bahay na iyun... Wala naman siya," Lee said. [We received reports that he was in Urbiztondo and staying alternately in his two houses. He was not there.]

• LOOK: What police found in Dayan's 'white house'

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II earlier said a Lookout Bulletin Order (LBO) will be issued against Dayan to alert all immigration counters nationwide on his possible attempt to leave the country.