Duterte stands by cops’ version of Espinosa slay despite Senate panel findings

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday still believes the version of the Eastern Visayas police's in the killing of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa.

Duterte made the remark after a Senate joint committee report indicated that the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Region 8 operatives premeditated Espinosa's death to cover up their involvement in illegal drugs.

"If it's done in the performance of duty, I said I support them. I will believe the police than other people. Otherwise, what's the point of sending police there or ask them to hunt for them?" he said in a press conference in Malacañang.

"I don't care even if it's a thousand committees there. I would insist on the truthfulness of police and I'll defend them basta huwag lang iyong abuso," he added.

"When I defend the police, I will defend the police. If I defend the military, I will go down with them, to the mouths of hell because that's my order. I wont renege on it. I won't deny it. Akin iyan mine and mine alone," he continued.

Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel, who was also at the press conference, was quick to point out that the report was not yet final and was still subject to plenary discussions and approval.

CIDG-8 was headed by dismissed Supt. Marvin Marcos who was reinstated by Duterte before Espinosa was killed despite a standing dismissal order by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa.

The Senate panel called this "micro-managing" and urged the President to refrain from such actions.

Duterte explained that he reinstated Marcos because he was looking to identify drug personalities in Eastern Visayas.

"Because meron ako pinahahanap sa kanya. Like what I said, I was looking for persons contaminating Eastern Visayas, sending young people to hell. Bakit hindi kita hahanapin?... Marami iyan sila," Duterte said.

Duterte said that Marcos was not looking for Espinosa.

"'Di naman si Espinosa. What is so special about Espinosa? Why are you zeroing--he was a victim of salvaging. Hindi lang siya marami," he said.

The President also said he couldn't care less about Espinosa's death.

"My heart does not bleed for any son of a bitch na namatay. My heart bleeds for so many Filipinos who are out of minds who cannot function anymore," he said. —NB, GMA News