Colmenares: Bato may face graft in coercing Kerwin to testify falsely

Atty. Neri Colmenares, former Bayan Muna Party-list representative. Senate PRIB file photo / Joseph Vidal

MANILA, Philippines — Human rights lawyer and former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares has said that former Philippine National Police chief and incumbent Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa could be held liable for graft

This came after self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa revealed during the hearing of the House quad committee investigating the human right violations of the past administration’s anti-drug war campaign that Dela Rosa ordered him to implicate former Sen. Leila de Lima in the illegal drug trade.

When asked by Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel if it is the job of a PNP chief to coerce someone to testify wrongly, Colmenares answered that it is not the job of a PNP chief to do so.

READ: Dela Rosa ordered me to implicate de Lima in drug trade – Kerwin Espinosa

“It’s not the job of a PNP chief or any public official for that matter. In fact, there could be anti-graft laws being violated here. Secondly, it’s a crime in itself, Mr. Chair. The crime committed by then PNP chief Bato dela Rosa could be labeled as grave coercion or even grave threats,” Colmenares said.

Colmenares noted that there is a pending bill in the Congress that penalizes public officials who coerce others to commit perjury.

READ: House bill seeks to criminalize subornation of perjury

“But that is a bill. So in case the committee is going to entertain in aid of legislation bills, then this is one of the bills they can pass after Congress, Mr. Chair,” Colmenares added.

Meanwhile, dela Rosa on Friday called Espinosa a liar and that he would punch him in the face if he saw him. The former PNP chief defended himself, saying that the only time he talked to Espinosa was when he asked if Police Col. Jovie Espenido received money from Espinosa.

Colmenares said in a statement on Saturday that dela Rosa’s threat to punch a witness appearing before the Congress “is not only a violation of the independence of legislative inquiries, but also shows his penchant to use violence when he disagrees with another.”

READ: Dela Rosa, 4 others now suspects in ICC ‘drug war’ case – Trillanes

The former representative also urged the Department of Justice to file charges of grave coercion against the senator using Espinosa’s recent testimony before the quad committee.

Dela Rosa was previously named by the International Criminal Court as one of the five suspects behind the bloody drug war under the past administration of Rodrigo Duterte that claimed thousands of lives.