FACE-OFF Sen. Leila de Lima questions Director General Ronald dela Rosa, Philippine National Police chief, on his statements about the circumstances behind the reinstatement of Chief Supt. Marvin Marcos. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
Sen. Leila de Lima confronted on Monday Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa over his changing statements on who ordered the reinstatement of Chief Supt. Marvin Marcos.
At the Senate inquiry into the Nov. 5 killing of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., an angry De Lima peppered Dela Rosa with questions on his earlier statements that a higher up and then a “kumpadre” had called him to ask that Marcos and his men from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Region 8 not be relieved.
Armed with a search warrant, a CIDG team, including Marcos, raided before dawn the subprovincial jail in Baybay City, Leyte, where the mayor was held and shot him dead.
Dela Rosa admitted that Mr. Duterte’s special assistant, Christopher “Bong” Go, called him on Oct. 26 to say the President wanted to talk to him.
On that day, Dela Rosa earlier ordered the relief of Marcos and some of his CIDG men after police officials he sent to Abu Dhabi to talk to the then newly arrested Kerwin Espinosa, a son of the mayor, told him that the confessed drug lord identified them as being on his payroll.
De Lima last week said it was Go who called up Dela Rosa to stop the relief of Marcos and his men. President Duterte later admitted he asked Go to call Dela Rosa whom he told that he did not want Marcos relieved.
The PNP chief also admitted that Mr. Duterte was his kumpadre and that the latter was a godfather at his wedding.
“So you will name (the President) eventually or ultimately,” De Lima pointedly asked Dela Rosa, who shot back that if he was pressed to do so, he would identify Mr. Duterte as the one who called him.
“Let’s change jobs, your honor. You be the PNP chief and if you can blame the President,” Dela Rosa told De Lima, prompting Sen. Panfilo Lacson to caution Dela Rosa.
“I’ve had enough of you. All of you who are lying,” De Lima shot back at the PNP chief.
The senator was apparently referring to government officials led by the President whom she accused of persecuting her and portraying her as a drug protector.
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