Espenido retracts drug-related allegations vs De Lima

Former Senator Leila de Lima and former President Rodrigo Duterte — GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE, MALACAÑANG FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Police Col. Jovie Espenido has retracted all his allegations against former senator Leila de Lima and revealed that he and confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa were asked to make their testimonies against her similar.

During the House of Representatives’ quad committee hearing on Tuesday, Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro asked Espenido about issues on De Lima, like if he knew her and her driver Ronnie Dayan before the Senate investigation in 2016.

“In relation to her alleged involvement in drug operations, have you known Senator De Lima before the Senate investigation? Yes or no?” Luistro asked. “Before that Senate investigation Col. Espenido, in relation to the alleged involvement of Senator de Lima, did you know Ronnie Dayan?”

“Sa drugs, hindi (about drugs, no.). No your Honors,” Espenido replied.

Luistro then asked Espenido if he was recanting his allegations against De Lima.

“There’s also a testimony coming from Kerwin Espinosa that you and him were instructed to talk with each other, to make sure that your testimonies against Senator De Lima are consistent. Do you confirm this, yes or no?” she asked.

“I confirm your Honor,” Espenido replied.

“With your answers to my questions Col. Espenido, this afternoon, are you retracting all the testimonies that you gave against Senator De Lima during that Senate investigation?” the lawmaker asked again.

“Yes, Mr. Chair,” the police official answered.

During a Senate hearing in 2016, Espenido claimed that De Lima supposedly received P8 million from Kerwin, the son of slain Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.

According to Espenido, the slain mayor and his family attested that De Lima had met and even talked for more than 20 minutes to Kerwin at Burnham Park in Baguio City.

READ: Cop recounts how De Lima supposedly got P8M from Espinosa son

Kerwin backed up Espenido’s testimony, which De Lima called “a very nice script.”

READ: De Lima says Espinosa testimony a very nice script

In April 2022, Kerwin recanted his testimony against De Lima. He said that statements made against her “are false and was the result of pressure, coercion, intimidation, and serious threats to his life and family members from the police who instructed him to implicate the Senator into the illegal drug trade.”

READ: Kerwin Espinosa recants drug trade accusations vs Sen. Leila de Lima

Last October 11, at the previous hearing of the quad committee, Kerwin claimed that it was former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and now Sen. Ronald dela Rosa who ordered him to implicate De Lima in the drug trade.

Kerwin said the directive came right after his father was killed in 2016. He also said Dela Rosa warned him about suffering the same fate as his slain father if he did not follow the orders.

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

De Lima was incarcerated on drug-related charges for over seven years, but the former senator believes these were just trumped-up charges filed because she was critical of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

A showdown between De Lima and Duterte was supposed to be held on Tuesday, but Duterte asked to be excused as he was not feeling well.