Kerwin Espinosa (left), Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa 

An emotional Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa claimed before the House quad-committee (quad-comm) on Friday, Oct. 11 that Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, pressured him in 2016 to implicate former senator Leila de Lima in the illegal drug trade. 

Dela Rosa at that time was the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, and handpicked by then-president Rodrigo Duterte to oversee the latter's newly launched war on drugs. 

Espinosa essentially walked back on his past testimonies in the Senate that ultimately led to De Lima's incarceration for over six years. 

Espinosa is the son of the late Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa. Mayor Espinosa was killed on Nov. 5, 2016 inside his jail cell after being included in the Duterte administration’s dreaded "narco-list". 

The killing arguably set the tone for the Duterte drug war. After the incident, Espinosa was arrested in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

In his testimony before the quad-comm, Espinosa said that he was brought back to the country on Nov. 17, 2016. 

"Sinundo ako ng mga kapulisan dito sa atin, ang sumundo sa akin, si General Bato, inakbayan niya ako papunta sa sasakyan na Land Cruiser na puti, na bullet-proof," he said. 

(Our policemen here fetched me, General Bato was there, he draped his arm around my shoulder and led me inside a white, bullet-proof land cruiser.) 

"Si General Bato nasa front seat, ako ay nasa 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,” he narrated. 

(General Bato was in the front seat, I was in the backseat, and I was flanked by a cop on each side, and they told me to confess that I was involved in the illegal drug trade here in the Philippines. And to implicate Peter Lim and Leila de Lima in order to pin them down.) 

"Kung hindi raw ako sumunod sa plano, pwedeng mangyari sa akin ang nangyari sa ama ko isa sa mga pamilya ko ang mamatay din. So nanginig ako sa panahon na ‘yon hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin," Espinosa said. 

(If I don't follow the plan, then what happened to my father could happen to me or to one of my family members. I was frightened during that time and I didn't know what to do.) 

It was around this time that he confessed in a Senate hearing that he was a drug lord.

Espinosa told the special four-way panel that he felt used by Dela Rosa. 

De Lima, a Duterte administration critic, was still a senator at that time. She was incarcerated on Feb. 24, 2017 and then released on Nov. 13, 2023 after later being absolved of what Espinosa described as fabricated accusations. 

Richard Gomez 

Espinosa further disclosed that he was instructed to include actor-politician Richard Gomez in the list of those involved in illegal drugs, even though he knew the accusations were baseless. 

Despite immense pressure, Espinosa said he refused to falsely implicate Gomez, who was then the mayor of Ormoc City. The latter now serves as Leyte 4th district congressman. 

Espinosa recounted how his father, prior to being killed, sought refuge at Dela Rosa’s residence, known as the White House in Camp Crame, in a desperate bid to stay alive. He broke down in tears each time he mentioned his late father. 

Mayor Espinosa was eventually transferred to Baybay Provincial Jail, where he was killed by policemen serving a search warrant inside his jail cell. 

According to Espinosa, his father pleaded for his life before being shot. “Nagmamakaawa ang aking ama, ‘Sir, huwag niyo po akong patayin,’ pero wala, binaril pa rin siya,” he said. 

(My father pleaded for his life, 'Sir, please don't kill me,' but it was for naught, he was still shot.) 

“Ang aking ama at ang aming pamilya ay naging biktima ng EJK (extrajudicial killings). Napakasakit po sa amin ang pagkawalay ng napakaraming inosenteng buhay,” he added. 

(My father and my family became victims of EJK. The loss of so many innocent lives is painful.) 

“Matagal na po kaming naghihintay ng hustisya. Alam ko po na ang aking ama, saan man siya ngayon, ay naghihintay din ng katarungan,” Espinosa further said. 

(We've long been waiting for justice. I know that my father, wherever he is, is waiting for justice to be served.)

'Sorry talaga po ma'am' 

Asked by Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro if he had any message for De Lima, Dela Rosa, and Duterte in light of his new revelations, Espinosa chose to first address the ex-senator. 

"Ma’am, kung nagsubaybay ka ngayon sa hearing dito sa quad comm, patawarin niyo po ako na nadala sa o nauto-uto sa panahon na ‘yon, na idamay ka po na walang katotohanan naman," he told De Lima in mixed Tagalog and Bisaya. 

(Ma'am, if you're following this quad-comm hearing, please forgive me, I was just duped during that time, duped into implicating you without basis.) 

"Ma’am, sa kaloob-looban, from my heart, I ask sorry, sorry talaga po ma’am at kung ano mang plano mo...handa ako kung ano po ang gagawin niyo," he added. 

(Ma'am, from the bottom of my heart, I apologize, I'm really sorry ma'am, and whatever you're plan is, I'm ready to face it.)

'Dela Rosa, sana po magbago na tayo'

Espinosa gave the following message to ex-PNP chief Dela Rosa. 

"Sir Bato dela Rosa, sana po magbago na tayo, na iwasan natin na gumagawa lang ng scenario dahil sa pulitika na masira ang isang tao kasi hindi ka-alyado natin, iwasan na po natin at ‘wag na nating gawin na pilitin na gumawa ng kwento para lang ma-pin down ang isang tao." 

(Sir Bato dela Rosa, I hope we change our ways, let's avoid making up scenarios to destroy the name of a person who is not our ally all because of politics, let's avoid making up stories just to pin down a person.) 

And finally, to former president Duterte, he said:  "At sa ating pangulo noon, ang ma-ano ko lang […] Mr. Duterte, sana po i-validate niyo po bawat report na marinig niyo sa inyong paligid na ganito, gan’yan, gan’yan […] i-validate niyo nang maigi para walang taong masaktan." 

(And to our president back then, I just want to say...Mr. Duterte, I hope you validate each report that you hear around you, about this and that...validate it properly so that people won't get hurt.)

Espinosa also took the opportunity to claim that he was never a drug lord as he previously said. However, he admitted to being a drug user "22 years ago". 

"Siya talaga ang nag-utos sa aking kung ano ang sasabibin ko doon sa Senado (He was really the one who instructed me on what to say at the Senate)," Espinosa said, referring to Dela Rosa.

Friday's hearing has been informally dubbed as the start of "season two" of the quad-comm. 

Overall quad-comm chairman, Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers vowed to render justice to victims of EJKs and human rights violations during the previous Duterte administration. 

Several relatives of these victims were present at the hearing. They attended a mass held Friday morning within the House of Representatives.  

"We will continue to hear your stories, seek out justice and truth, and fight for your rights, in the face of threats to suppress them. Together we fight for dignity and honor. We can only craft protection if we know the truth. Those who violated our laws should be brought to justice,” said Barbers.