By Junex Doronio
MANILA – Alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa asked for forgiveness from former Senator Leila de Lima on Friday, admitting that he had falsely implicated her as a drug protector due to pressure from then-Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, now Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
Espinosa made the revelation during the resumption of the House Quad Committee’s public hearing, which is investigating the links between Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), illegal drug trade, and extra-judicial killings (EJKs).
“Patawarin n’yo po ako na nadala, nauto-uto sa panahon na ‘yun, na idamay ka po, na walang katotohanan naman… Sorry, ma’am. Handa po akong harapin kung ano ang plano mo sa akin po,” Espinosa said.
He also claimed that Dela Rosa pressured him into implicating businessman Peter Lim alongside De Lima.
Espinosa recounted that he had just returned from Abu Dhabi on November 17, 2016, when Dela Rosa personally fetched him.
“Ang sumundo sa akin, si General Bato, inakbayan niya ako papunta sa sasakyan na Land Cruiser na puti, na bullet-proof,” he said. “Noong sumakay na kaming lahat, si General Bato na sa front seat, ako ay nasa likod, pinagitnaan ako ng dalawang pulis. Sinabihan niya ako, ‘Aminin mo na sangkot ka sa kalakaran sa droga dito sa Pilipinas, at idawit mo si Peter Lim at si Leila de Lima para madiin sila.'”
Espinosa added that Dela Rosa threatened him, warning that if he did not comply, he might suffer the same fate as his father, Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa, who was killed in his jail cell during a raid on November 5, 2016.
Then-President Rodrigo Duterte had earlier included the elder Espinosa in his narco-list.
“Kapag hindi raw ako sumunod sa plano, puwedeng mangyari sa akin ang nangyari sa ama ko, o isa sa mga pamilya ko ang mamatay din,” Espinosa said.
ia/mnm
