President Rodrigo Duterte will not interfere in the investigation of and legal proceedings against the killers of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. but he will do everything to spare them from being jailed, Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said on Thursday.
Dela Rosa came to the defense of his commander-in-chief, who said he would not let Supt. Marvin Marcos and the rest of the policemen who raided Espinosa’s cell in Leyte, to land in jail for killing the mayor and another inmate last Nov. 5.
Despite the National Bureau of Investigation’s findings that the operation was a rubout, Duterte said he would stand by the police and support their version of the incident.
“The President just wants to express his support to the operating troops by saying na ayaw niyang ipakulong (he doesn’t want them to be jailed). Meaning, hahanapan niya ng paraan na hindi sila makulong (he will find a way for them not to be jailed),” Dela Rosa said in a press conference at Camp Crame on Thursday.
READ: Palace: Duterte won’t meddle in probe vs cops in Espinosa slay
Dela Rosa clarified that Duterte does not intend to break the law by hiding Marcos and his men so they can evade arrest.
READ: Duterte: I won’t allow cops who killed Mayor Espinosa go to jail
He said the President will hire good lawyers for Marcos and other members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Region 8 and Regional Maritime Unit 8 so they can post bail if a court issues warrants of arrest against them.
“Ang sabi niya ayaw niyang makulong sila. Hahanapan niya ng paraan to give legal means, hindi niya palayasin o pataguin (He said he doesn’t want them jailed. He will find a way to give legal means, he won’t let them flee or hide). He’s a prosecutor and he knows that. We will exhaust all legal remedies,” he said. CDG/rga