Palace to ask Bato to reveal ‘kumpare’ who called him over Marcos reinstatement

Malacañang on Friday said they might ask PNP chief Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa to reveal his "kumpare" inside the Palace who called him to reinstate Supt. Marvin Marcos of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Region 8 who was accused of receiving drug money from Kerwin Espinosa. 

At a press briefing, Presidential Communications Officer Assistant Secretary Anna Marie Banaag was asked if President Rodrigo Duterte would fire Dela Rosa's kumpare. 

"Alamin po natin muna kung sino si 'kumpare' kasi malaking bagay iyan na malaman ng publiko. For now, we cannot comment on that kung ano gagawin ng Presidente, kung ano ang maaari niyang gawin at doon sa gravity ng ginawa kung meron man at kung ano ang impluwensya ng tumawag sa kanya," she said. 

Pressed if the Palace will ask the PNP chief to reveal the identity of his "kumpare," Banaag replied: "I guess so. I guess so. [You will?] Yes." 

NOW: Asec. Banaag's press briefing with AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Padilla pic.twitter.com/FphKaYQLCX

— Trisha Macas (@trishamacas) December 2, 2016

Earlier during the same press briefing, Banaag stressed that the issue no longer matters since Marcos is already in restrictive custody. 

"Water under the bridge kasi hindi naman niya [Dela Rosa] ginawa ang pinapakiusap sa kanya," Banaag said. 

Dela Rosa previously explained that he relieved Marcos when Espinosa tagged the former CIDG Region 8 in the illegal drug trade. His "kumpare" in Malacañang then requested to have Marcos reinstated, which the PNP chief did.

But Marcos was once again relieved after Kerwin's father – Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa – was killed inside his cell during a CIDG operation. 

On Thursday, Sen. Leila de Lima claimed that as disclosed by her sources, the "kumpare" Dela Rosa was referring to was Special Assistant to the President Christopher "Bong" Go. 

That same day, Go denied De Lima's allegation.

On Friday, Dela Rosa dared De Lima to reveal her source before disclosing the identity of his "kumpare." — RSJ, GMA News