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Espinosa already retracted his statements against Leila de Lima in 2022, but this is the first time he alleges that the ex-PNP chief forced him to testify against the former senator
MANILA, Philippines – Alleged drug lord Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa testified that he was forced by former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief-turned-Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa to lie and link former senator Leila de Lima to illegal drugs, as the the House quad committee resumed its hearing on Friday, October 11.
Based on Espinosa’s affidavit obtained by Rappler, he narrated his family’s struggles under the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte. When he returned to the Philippines after his arrest in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in 2016, Espinosa said Dela Rosa was among the people who picked him up.
“Isa sa sumundo sa akin ay si [Police] General Bato dela Rosa, kung saan sinabi niya sa akin na idawit ko si Peter Lim sa kalakaran ng droga sa Pilipinas. Pati na din daw si Leila de Lima para madiin. At bago pa man ‘yon, pinilit nila ako na umamin na ako ay may kinalaman sa droga,” Espinosa said in his affidavit, which he also read during the mega-panel’s hearing on Friday.
(Among those who picked me up was Police General Bato dela Rosa, who told me that I need to implicate Peter Lim in the illegal drug trade. He also told me to pin Leila de Lima. And even before that, they forced me to admit that I am involved in illegal drugs.)
“Sinabihan ako na isama ang pangalan no’ng mga nasabi ko dahil gusto ko na maligtas ang buhay ko. Ito ay dahil sinabihan ako na pag hindi ako sumunod, baka may mangyaring masama sa akin o baka may mangyaring masama sa pamilya ko,” Espinosa said.
(I was told to implicate the names I was given if I want to save my life. I was also told that if I won’t follow, something bad will happen to me or to my family.)
Espinosa said he was told by Dela Rosa that the order was approved by the higher-ups, and he said this meant that Duterte knew about the operation. He added that Dela Rosa also told him to testify in the Senate in an orderly manner and to follow their orders, or else he will be harmed.
The Espinosa family was thrust into the national spotlight after Kerwin was accused of being the top illegal drug personality in Eastern Visayas. Duterte himself accused Kerwin and his father, Rolando, of being involved in the illegal drug trade after a police operation that seized P11-million worth of shabu in a tennis court near Espinosa’s home in Albuera, Leyte.
However, the older Espinosa was killed in 2016, only months after he first surrendered to Dela Rosa.
The younger Espinosa was accused of giving De Lima payout drug money through her erstwhile bodyguard, Ronnie Dayan. Espinosa’s statements were used to persecute De Lima, but he did not serve as a witness on record on the three drug cases filed against the former senator. In 2022, Espinosa retracted all his accusations against De Lima and said he was “coerced, pressured, intimidated and seriously threatened” to make his previous statement.
Espinosa had faced a pile of cases, including money laundering and drug-related cases. He, however, has already been acquitted in all of his drug-related cases and walked free from detention after he was allowed to post bail in December 2023. Espinosa’s only remaining charge is a case for 84 counts of money laundering.
He is now running for Albuera, Leyte mayor. – Rappler.com
