Bato vouches for Espenido, but says there was no failure of intelligence

Senator Ronald dela Rosa on Tuesday vouched for the integrity of relieved Police Lieutenant Colonel Jovie Espenido, but disagreed with the latter’s claims that failure of intelligence led to the police official’s inclusion in the government drug watchlist.

“Ako I can vouch for him. I’m sure maki-clear ‘yan siya hindi lang na-process ‘yan, matagal lang napabayaan ang information na ‘yan. Hindi na-process, hindi na validate kaya ito ngayon iba-validate ‘yan para he will be taken off the list,” Dela Rosa told reporters.

On the statement of Espenido that there was failure of intelligence, the former Philippine National Police chief said there was a failure to immediately deliberate the allegations against Espenido, who led major operations against big-time drug suspects.

“Hindi failure of intelligence, kaya nga lumabas ‘yung pangalan niya dahil may intelligence report. Failure of deliberation lang, hindi na deliberate nang maaga…I’m sure malulusutan n’ya ‘yan depende sa ebidensya na lalabas during the investigation pero ako I am very positive, knowing him,” he said.

Dela Rosa admitted that he was surprised with the inclusion of Espenido’s name but he already expected it.

“Nagulat ako pero expected ko na ‘yan. Nireresbakan ka that’s how dirty drugs is, ngayon good boy ka, bukas bad boy ka, ngayon bad boy ka, bukas pwede kang maging good boy. Makikita mo ang impluwensya ng sindikato,” he said.

He said Espenido may have affected some police officers in the intelligence community who were involved in illegal drugs  and made up stories against him.

He added the relief of Espenido as Bacolod police deputy chief for operation is part of a regular procedure.

The senator recalled that the accusation of suspected Eastern Visayas drug lord Kerwin Espinosa against Espenido, then Albuera town police chief, was one of the reasons he cried during a Senate investigation in 2016.

Espinosa later backtracked from his accusation that Espenido received drug money from him. 

“Sabi ko nga noon wala na akong kakampi dahil ‘yung taong pinagkatiwalaan ko kasama na sa sindikato but na-validate ko ang information na ‘yun after ng hearing. Pinuntahan ko si Espinosa, nag-heart to heart talk kami, sabi nya sa akin, Sir, pasensya ka na nasabi ko lang sa hearing na si Espinido ay tumatanggap ng pera sa father ko dahil sa sama ng loob,” he recounted his talk with Espinosa.

He said Espinosa told him that money was offered to Espenido but the latter would just send the former Bible verses.

Asked for his advice to police officers doing anti-drug operation, Dela Rosa said they should not lose heart.

“Sa mga pulis na engaged sa anti-drug war, ‘wag kayo panghinaan ng loob. Baka sabihin n’yo si Espenido nga na may pangalan ngayon nilagay sa listahan, alam ny ganun kadumi ang labanan sa droga kaya ‘wag kayo panghinaan ng loob. Wala kayong ultimate witness sa kabutihan ng pagkapulis si Lord lang. Alam ni Lord kung sino ang mabuti at masama,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News