By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Reiterating what he told former Senator Leila de Lima that the truth shall set her free, Police Colonel Jovie Espenido on Tuesday (22 October 2024) retracted his testimonies against her in a 2016 Senate investigation on the illegal drug trade.
Espenido made the recantation during Tuesday’s House Quad Committee (QuadComm) investigation on drug war deaths during the administration of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
To recall, suspected drug Iord Kerwin Espinosa claimed that he handed over P8 million of drug money to De Lima, an allegation that he has already retracted in 2022.
Batangas Representative Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro asked Espenido: “Are you retracting all the testimonies that you gave against Senator de Lima during that Senate investigation [in 2016]?”
Espenido answered, “Yes, Ma’am.”
He also said that then Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and now Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa asked him (Espenido) and Espinosa to link De Lima to the illegal drug trade.
“There’s also a testimony coming from Kerwin Espinosa that you and him were instructed to talk with each other to make sure that your testimonies against Senator De Lima are consistent [linking de Lima to the illegal drug trade], do you confirm this? Yes or no?,” Luistro asked.
“I confirm, Your Honor,” Espenido replied.
De Lima later told reporters that she felt vindicated by the turn of events.
She disclosed that she will file charges against those involved in the bloody drug war during the previous administration and this includes former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
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