Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa asserted that the abrupt change in statements by presumed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa is a strategy to 'demolish' former President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies.
"Ano ang kanyang motibo? ‘Yun ang maghiganti sa Duterte administration at magbigay ng gratitude sa mga taong nagpalabas sa kanya sa kulungan," Dela Rosa said in an exclusive interview with DZRH for Damdaming Bayan on Monday.
"Ano ‘yung kanyang instrumentality? Andyan ‘yung quad-comm, ‘yan ‘yung instrumentality niya. Nagagamit niya as an instrument to commit the crime of perjury. ‘Yan ‘yung klarong istorya dyan," he added.
Dela Rosa also questioned who took charge of Espinosa's case and the rationale for its dismissal, emphasizing that he is a significant figure in drug trafficking.
He also raised concerns about the dismissal of the case during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s tenure. The senator claimed that Espinosa may have a debt of gratitude to those who facilitated the dismissal of his case.
"So kung siya ay gagamitin laban sa mga Duterte, by all means, gagawin niya iyan dahil utang na loob niya iyon," said Dela Rosa.
"Ngayon, gagamitin siya ng mga tao ng administrasyon para i-demolish ang Duterte at mga kaalyado ni Duterte," he added.
Will Dela Rosa face the House quad-committee once summoned?
Dela Rosa reiterated that he will not appear before the quad-committee, as he is aware of the alleged intentions behind the panel. He mentioned that he is strictly following the so-called interchamber courtesy between the Senate and House of Representatives.
He stated that he does not want to set a precedent where a senator is summoned to a House hearing and chooses to attend.
"Magdasal sila na matalo ako this coming election at hindi na ako senador at wala na akong pangalagaan na institutional practices and tradition, I will face them anywhere," Dela Rosa said firmly.
However, Dela Rosa believes that Filipinos are no longer easily deceived. He noted that with the rise of social media, people's awareness has significantly increased.
"Kaya naniniwala pa rin ako sa masang Pilipino, karamihan ng masang Pilipino ay alam kung ano ang nangyayari at hindi nagpapaloko dyan sa mga kanilang mga objectives na i-demolish ‘yung Duterte people," Dela Rosa added.
On October 11, Espinosa appeared before the Joint Committee to testify before the House quad-comm panel.
He then disclosed that Dela Rosa, at the time the Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, threatened to harm him and his family if he did not implicate former Senator Leila de Lima and Peter Lim in the country's drug trade.
