MANILA, Philippines — Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and now Senator Ronald dela Rosa allegedly served as a protector for drug-linked personalities — late Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. and his son Kerwin Espinosa — a police official said on Wednesday.
Police Col. Jovie Espenido, former police chief of Albuera town in Leyte, said in a sworn affidavit handed to the House of Representatives quad-committee that dela Rosa was involved in the dismissal of cases against Kerwin and other local cops who supposedly protected the Espinosa family.
Espenido was credited for the dismantling of the illegal drug trade in Albuera, supposedly operated by Kerwin. The police official was also responsible for filing cases of illegal drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms against the Espinosas.
“I believe Chief dela Rosa was involved in the dismissal of the cases that l built up against Kerwin Espinosa including the burying of the cases that I was building against his police protectors or coddlers who have been receiving money from him,” Espenido said in his statement.
“I can say this because instead of allowing my unhampered access on Kerwin when he was apprehended in Dubai, he immediately ordered Kerwin’s turnover to AIDG (PNP Anti-Illegal Drug Group) instead of ordering his turnover to my unit which was then investigating the drug cases where Kerwin was involved,” he added.
According to Espenido, he has never heard of the cases, which he believes should have been filed before the courts.
“In the same vein, I have never heard again of the cases that were supposed to be filed against Kerwin’s protectors, or if they actually have been filed in the first place given that decisive evidence establishing their guilt, that is, the logbook and the copies of the cleared checks in the name of these people are still in the custody of the PNP,” he noted.
Espenido also recounted that he was accused of receiving money from the Espinosas, despite Kerwin telling a Senate panel that he did not give any money for protection to Espenido.
“I personally reported to PNP Chief dela Rosa at his office in Camp Crame to submit my accomplishment report in my police operations in Albuera. In that meeting, however, he told me that Kerwin Espinosa had alleged that I was on the take from his group for P20,000 per month from Kerwin as there is no truth as to this,” Espenido said in another portion of the affidavit.
“I was eventually cleared by Kerwin who said I was the only one who did not get money from him and his group in one of the Senate hearings where he was invited as a resource speaker,” he added.
Assignment to Ozamis
When Misamis Occidental 2nd District Rep. Sancho Fernando Oaminal asked Espenido why he was transferred to Ozamis in late 2016, the police official said he believed it was meant to put him in harm’s way.
“Your Honor, Mr. Chair, dalawa lang ang intindi ko. Number one, nang mag-instruction sila, para ako ma-dale, kasi galit sila na na-disband ko si Kerwin Espinosa. Why I say this? Si Kerwin Espinosa, tao nila. Magsabi ako na tao nila kasi hindi binigay sa akin when in fact, your Honor, Mr. Chair, finile-an ako ng complaint ni Kerwin Espinosa sa Ombudsman samantalang si Kerwin, hinawakan na ang AIDG,” Espenido said.
(Your Honor, Mr. Chair, I believe there are two reasons. Number one, they instructed me to head Ozamis so I can be dealt with, because they were mad that I disbanded Kerwin Espinosa’s group. Why do I say this? Kerwin Espinosa is under their control. I say that Espinosa is their man because he was not handed over to me when in fact, your Honor, Mr. Chair, Kerwin filed a complaint against me but it was the AIDG who handled Kerwin.)
“Kasi nakita nila na-disband si Kerwin Espinosa, na tao nila, ilagay natin si Espenido sa Ozamis para mamatay. Siguro ang pag-iisip nila, your Honor, Mr. Chair, na nag-underestimate kay Espenido, kasi si Espenido, only a lateral [entry], wala akong schooling ng special course. Wala akong schooling, simple lang si Espenido, Grade 1 Section 10 lang pero ang pag-underestimate nila, na-accomplish ko ‘yong Espinosa drug groups, galit na naman sila,” he added.
(Because Espinosa’s group was disbanded, they said, ‘Let us place Espenido in Ozamis so he will die.’ Maybe they were thinking of underestimating me because I only got into the PNP through a lateral entry. I did not have schooling on a special course. I am only simple, Grade 1 Section 10 but their decision to underestimate me backfired, as I was able to disband the Espinosa drug groups.)
Despite his performance at Albuera, Espenido was transferred to Ozamis City in Misamis Occidental in December 2016. Under his watch, Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. and 14 others were killed by police serving arrest warrants on drug charges against the mayor. Meanwhile, 11 other individuals, including Parojinog’s daughter Vice Mayor Nova Echaves, were arrested.
WHAT WENT BEFORE: Parojinogs in drug bust
During a Senate inquiry in April 2019, Espenido maintained the legitimacy of police operations conducted against the Parojinog clan.
According to the police official, they wanted to arrest the Parojinogs alive and “to show the people how they are being subjected to the grind of justice.”
READ: Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido recounts operation vs Parojinogs