‘Bato’: I failed to protect Espinosa, but I vow to keep Kerwin alive

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa vows to keep suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa alive following his father’s death, Albuera town, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. NESTOR CORRALES/INQUIRER.net

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia—Philippine National Police Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has admitted that he failed to protect Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. but vowed to keep his son Kerwin alive.

“Hindi yun mamamatay. Ako bahala (He won’t die. I’ll take care of it),” the PNP chief said in an ambush interview when he arrived in Davao City after joining President Duterte’s official delegation in his Malaysia trip. He earlier said that he will make up for his failure to protect Mayor Espinosa by ensuring the safety of the younger Espinosa.

“Sige na babawi nalang ako dito kay Kerwin, pakisabi doon sa pamilya what I failed doon sa father I will redeem doon sa anak. Pag uwi nun sisiguruhin ko na walang manyari sa kanya (I promise to protect Kerwin, please tell his family that what I failed to do to his father, I will redeem through his son. When he comes home, I will see to it that he would be safe),” Dela Rosa told reporters at the Marriott Hotel here on Thursday night.

READ: ‘Bato’ to personally protect Kerwin Espinosa

The older Espinosa was killed in a “firefight” after allegedly resisting arrest at the Baybay, Leyte sub-provincial jail last Nov. 5.

READ: Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa killed in ‘firefight’ inside jail

The police chief said he was able to protect the slain mayor when he was with him at the police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

But Dela Rosa took full responsibility for the operation of the operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) who served the search warrant on Espinosa.

He assured that the younger Espinosa would be given “appropriate security” once he travels from Abu Dhabi to the Philippines.

“Tropa ko man lang ang magsundo sa kanya. Sisiguruhin ko na appropriate ung security na i-cocover sa kanya pagbalik niya although it doesn’t negate the fact na talagang siya ay drug lord (My staff would fetch him. I would make sure that he would have appropriate security when he returns although it doesn’t negate the fact that he is a drug lord),” he said.

Dela Rosa said the younger Espinosa will be detained at the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame.

“Crame, sa detention ng Crame ([He is] to be detained at Camp Crame),” he told reporters.

Mayor Espinosa stayed at the PNP’s White House when he surrendered to Dela Rosa last August amid allegations that he and his son were part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s list of alleged drug lords. RAM/rga