Kerwin Espinosa says Bato pressured him to pin De Lima, Peter Lim to illegal drug trade

Alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa on Friday accused former Philippine National Police chief and now Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa of pressuring him to link former Senator Leila de Lima and businessman Peter Lim to the illegal drug trade.

Espinosa made the accusation during the continuation of the investigation of the House Quad Committee (QuadComm) into the deaths related to the Duterte administration's war on drugs.

Espinosa said it happened in November 2016 upon his return to the Philippines from Abu Dhabi where he was arrested. At that time, he was facing drug-related charges in the country. 

“November 17, sinundo ako ng mga kapulisan dito sa atin. Ang sumundo sa akin, si General Bato, inakbayan niya ako papunta sa sasakyan na Land Cruiser na puti, na bullet-proof. Noong sumakay na kaming lahat, si General Bato nasa front seat, ako ay nasa likod, pinagitnaan ako ng dalawang mga pulis, at sinabihan niya ako na aminin mo na sangkot ka sa kalakaran sa droga dito sa Pilipinas at idawit ko si Peter Lim at si Leila de Lima para madiin na sila,” Espinosa narrated to the committee.

(On November 17, when I was fetched by police officials, General Bato put his arm around me on the way to the bullet-proof vehicle. When we boarded the vehicle, I was sandwiched by two other police officials and General Bato told me that I should admit I was involved in the illegal drug trade and that I should pinpoint Peter Lim and Leila de Lima so they will be indicted for drug charges.)

He said he was told that if he would not follow the plan, what happened to his father, the late Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa, who was killed while in prison, could also happen to him or a member of his family.

“So nanginig ako sa panahon na ‘yon, hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin,” Espinosa said. 

(I was terrified that time, I did not know what to do.) 

Ronnie Dayan

Espinosa also said Dela Rosa even made him talk to Ronnie Dayan, De Lima's then-bodyguard, so that they will corroborate each other's testimony in a Senate investigation on the illegal drug trade. He told the Senate investigation back then that he handed over as much as P8 million of drug money to De Lima.

“Pinlantsa namin ‘yung dapat naming sabihin sa Senado para magtugma ang mga lugar, petsa, at kung ano pa. At pagkatapos nun, kinausap ako ni Sir Bato. ‘Yun na ang ilagay mo sa affidavit na kukunin ng mga PAO (Public Attorney’s Office) lawyer. So, after two days, nandoon na yung mga PAO lawyer. Kinunan na ako ng salaysay. At bago umalis si Sir Bato, sinabihan ako, ayusin mo nga kung ayaw mong may mangyari sa'yo,” Espinosa said.

(We ironed out the differences in our testimonies, so the places and dates would match. Then Sir Bato told me those should be reflected in an affidavit. After two days, PAO lawyers were there, and I was told again I should shape up if  I want to be safe.)

Espinosa then apologized to De Lima for giving in to Dela Rosa’s threats.

'Suntukin ko sa mukha'

In response, Dela Rosa said that, if given the chance, he would punch Espinosa for lying.

"Sabihan mo siya, 'pag makita ko siya, suntukin ko sa mukha sa kanyang kasinungalingan. 'Pag magkita kami, suntukin ko siya sa mukha. Sobrang sinungaling siya," Dela Rosa said.

(I'll punch him in the face when I see him. He is lying. When I see him, I'll punch his face. He is really lying.)

Dela Rosa then said the only thing that he and Espinosa talked about was how the latter despised Police Lieutenant Colonel Jovie Espenido over the death of Mayor Espinosa while in jail in Leyte. That anger, Dela Rosa said, made the younger Espinosa say that Espenido was receiving money from the late mayor.

"That is all we talked about. Kala mo sino siya makapagsalita. Kala mo sino siyang malinis. Gumagawa siya ng mga istorya samantalang noon ang bait bait niya sa custodiya namin," Dela Rosa said.

(Who does he think he is? As if he is a righteous one. He is weaving tales when he was meek as a lamb when he was in our custody.)

Dela Rosa then said Espinosa has no credibility.

"Demonyo talaga iyan eh. Drug lord talaga. Sira ulo. Kahit na na-dismiss iyong kaso niya, he remains a drug lord. Alam na alam ng mga tao yan, kahit na nakakulong siya, gumagana pa rin ang droga doon sa lugar niya sa Albuera. Gumagana pa rin kasi siya pa rin nagpapatakbo. Alam na alam ko yan, nire-report sa akin niya ng mga tropa," Dela Rosa added.

(He is a demon. A drug lord. A fool. While cases against him have been dismissed, he remains a drug lord. The people of Albuera know it. The drug trade is alive in Albuera and he runs it. I know it because the troops have reported it to me.)

Denial

Espinosa, during the hearing, denied that he was a drug lord.

"Hindi ako drug lord. Pero naging isang adik-adik ako. Drug user ako. 22 years ago. Naging drug addict po ako pero hindi ako drug lord,” Espinosa said.

The elder Espinosa was killed by policemen during a raid in his jail cell at the Baybay Sub-Provincial Jail in Leyte on November 5, 2016 after he was tagged by then-President Rodrigo Duterte as being involved in the illegal drug trade.

De Lima was eventually arrested and detained for three counts of drug-related charges. She spent seven years in detention before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court cleared her of all of the drug charges.  

A Makati court, meanwhile, ordered Lim's arrest in August 2018 after it found probable cause to put him, Kerwin Espinosa, and several others on trial for a case for conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading. Authorities, however, have yet to locate Lim, who is believed to have left the country already.

Kerwin Espinosa has been cleared of the drug charges filed against him and is now running for mayor of Albuera, Leyte in the 2025 elections.

Victims, families come forward

The QuadComm probe on the drug war deaths during the Duterte administration was like how the Nuremberg trials sentenced perpetrators of the Holocaust that killed over six million Jews, lead chairperson Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte said.

Barbers made the declaration when the panel resumed the probe on Friday but only after a mass was held for the victims of drug war killings during the Duterte administration.

"Inspired by the Quadcomm’s success in the Barayuga murder case, other victims have decided to come forward to help us tell the nation and the world, the evil they have experienced, so that just like in the Nuremberg trials of World War 2 atrocities, these horrible acts may not happen again, their perpetrators brought to justice, and laws may be amended, introduced and crafted to guarantee these ends,” Barbers said.

Barbers was referring to the revelation of Police Lieutenant Colonel Santie Mendoza of the Philippine National-Police Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-PDEG) accusing former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Royina Garma and National Police Commission (Napolcom) Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo of ordering the July 2020 killing of then-PCSO Board Secretary Wesley Barayuga.

Since then, the PNP has reopened the Barayuga case.

“We will be hearing testimonies of some of the victims, members of their families, and other witnesses who will recount to us their horrible experiences and retell their painful stories, this time around, without fear and with renewed hope that Quad Comm may be the instrument to find their closures and the justice that has eluded them for years,” Barbers said.

“We will fight for the rights of our people to live with dignity, freedom, and without fear,” Barbers added.

Rodrigo Baylon, father of the nine-year-old Lenin who was killed in the anti-drug police operations in pursuit of two drug suspects, also called on the former President to take responsibility for the drug war deaths.

“Ang akin pong anak, kailanman, never pong nainvolve sa drugs. Unang una, siyam na taon po ito, nag-aaral, Grade 4. Gusto po niyang makatapos ng pag-aaral, para maging guro na makakapagbigay ng dagdag kaalaman,” Baylon told reporters in an interview.

“Ito pong policy ni Ginoong Duterte, parang mga manok na pinapatay iyong mga nais nilang tugisin, nadamay ang aking anak, tinamaan sa ilalim ng kili-kili. Problema rin namin, sa death certificate, broncho pneumonia imbes na gunshot. Hanggang ngayon, humahanap pa rin kami ng hustisya,” Baylon added.

Fr. Noel Gatchalian, one of the priests who officiated the mass for the victims of the drug war deaths, also said that the innocence of those wrongfully killed must be honored.

“Marami po ang inosenteng pinaslang at karapat-dapat lamang na sila ay bigyan ng katarungan," he said.

(A lot of innocent people died, and they deserve no less than justice.)—KBK, GMA Integrated News