TACLOBAN CITY – Rolando “Kerwin” Espinosa, who recently filed his Certificate of Candidacy for mayor of Albuera, Leyte, maintained innocence in the illegal drug charges filed against him.
ESPINOSA
The son of slain Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. said he was put under pressure when he was asked to testify during the Senate hearings.
“Ginagamit ni Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa si Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido. Si Sen. Bato talaga ang nag-pressure sa akin. Tinakot ako,” he said.
(Sen. Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa used Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido. Sen. Bato pressured me. He threatened me)
“Kung kayo ang nasa kalagayan ko sa panahon na ‘yon, at kayo ang nasa Senado, siguro aaminin niyo para lang mailigtas ang pamilya niyo dahil may maliliit pa akong mga anak,” Kerwin said, citing the series of killings tied to former President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s war on drugs.
(I was scared and forced to admit to save my family)
He apologized to people he mentioned in his testimony, including former Sen. Leila M. de Lima, who was recently cleared of drug trafficking charges by a Muntinlupa City court.
“Ako’y taos-pusong humihingi ng kapatawaran sa intong lahat at handa akong harapin kung anuman ang plano niyo. Kung babalikan niyo ako, balikan niyo lang kasi sa panahon na ‘yon ako talaga ay sobrang pressured na gumawa na lang ako ng mga pangalan na maidadawit para maganda pakinggan ang mga balita.”
(I sincerely apologize and I am ready to face the consequences. I was pressured to implicate names)
“Sa totoo lang pabag sa kalooban ko ang ginawa kong testimonya kasi walang katotohanan,” he added.
(My testimony was against my will because it is untrue)
Kerwin said Duterte’s drug war did not do any good because only poor people were killed and arrested while some who were close to them were unharmed.
“Maybe the war on drugs was helpful but it was not properly implemented. That is why I decided to help in the right way with no violence,” he said.
He appealed to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Congress to help attain justice for his father, who, according to him, was killed inside the Leyte sub-provincial jail in Baybay City, Leyte in 2016 like an animal.
Espinosa said he is willing to testify before the International Criminal Court to clear his father and family from accusations.
“Hayaan na natin ang imbestigasyon na umusad kasi lalabas at lalabas ang tunay na may kasalanan dapat lang makulong.”
(Allow the investigation to move to enable the truth to come out)
Espinosa appealed to the media not to tag him as a self-confessed drug lord as he has been cleared of illegal drug charges.