MANILA – Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa has threatened to punch Kerwin Espinosa in the face for his statements in the recent House of Representatives’ Quadcom hearing.
In an interview with the media, Dela Rosa denied he forced Espinosa to link former senator Leila De Lima and businessman Peter Lim to the illegal drug trade.
“Sabihan mo siya na kapag makita ko siya suntukin ko siya sa mukha sa kanyang kasinungalingan. Kapag magkita kami, suntukin ko siya sa mukha. Sobrang sinungaling siya,” Dela Rosa said.
Dela Rosa added that the only time he talked to Espinosa was when he asked if Police Colonel Jovie Espenido received money from the confessed drug lord.
“Kinonfirm ko lang ‘yung nangyari kay Esspenido nga, kung totoo ba ‘yung sinabi niya na tumatanggap sa kanya ng pera si Espenido,” Dela Rosa recalled.
“’Yung gabi lang na ‘yun, after ng Senate hearing, kasi nabagabag ako talaga dahil nga sinabi niya na si Espenido raw ay tumatanggap ng pera sa kanya,” he added.
“Other [than] that, wala na kaming pinag-usapan. Paano ako magkuha na idiin pa si Peter Lim, sinong — anong makukuha ko roon? Na meron namang imbestigador na may hawak sa kanya,” he further said.
Dela Rosa also noted that Espinosa was not a credible witness and the statements of the drug lord must not be trusted.
“Alam na alam ng mga tao ‘yan kahit na nakakulong siya sa National Bureau of Investigation [ay] gumagana pa rin ang droga doon sa lugar niya sa Albuera. Gumagana pa rin kasi siya pa rin ang nagpapatakbo,” Dela Rosa said.
Meanwhile, Dela Rosa claimed that he has no knowledge on the revelation of retired police officer Royina Garma regarding the reward system on Duterte administration’s drug war.
“Only Garma can answer that question. I cannot speculate. I have no idea about that reward system. During my time as the [Chief PNP] I did not engage in a reward system because I had no funds for that,” Dela Rosa said.
“The only reward system in the PNP is the DILG-approved list of most wanted persons. I did not believe in such a system because it is a sworn duty of every policeman to keep his area of responsibility free from drugs,” he added./PN
