Kerwin Espinosa Pin Down Bato dela Rosa in Recent Claim
KERWIN ESPINOSA – The self-confessed drug lord claimed that former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Bato dela Rosa coerced him to implicate Leila de Lima.
The detention of former senator Leila de Lima for around 6 years is one of those that has continuously sparked headlines during the time. She faced several charges that linked her to drug accusations but those were dismissed by the court.
It was in 2017 when an arrest order was released against De Lima over her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison. The allegations centered on the time when she was the Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary.
Several individuals including the son of slain Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa, Kerwin Espinosa, spoke and pinned down then-Sen. Leila de Lima. The elder Espinosa was killed during the raid on his jail cell.
It was in November 2023 when former Sen. Leila de Lima was given her temporary freedom through posting bail. Countless Filipinos laud the strength of the former Senator while there are also those who remain to have only criticisms for her.
Recently, another individual who pinned down former Sen. Leila de Lima retracted his statement. Kerwin Espinosa claimed that he was only forced to implicate De Lima and Peter Lim in the illegal drug trade.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Kerwin Espinosa claimed that it was allegedly then Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and now Senator Bato dela Rosa who ordered him to implicate former Sen. Leila de Lima and Peter Lim if he does not want to have the same fate as his father.
“Noong sumakay na kaming lahat, si General Bato na sa front seat, ako ay na sa 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 said at the House hearing.
Based on the report, the self-confessed drug lord recalled that it was on November 17, 2016 when dela Rosa allegedly coerced him to pin down De Lima and Lim. As of this writing, the Senator has not reacted to the claim against him.