Bato denies involvement in De Lima case, says DOJ built case

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa claimed that it was the Department of Justice (DOJ), not the police, that built the illegal drug case against former senator Leila de Lima.

Testifying at the hearing of the House of Representatives’ quad committee on Friday, October 11, alleged drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa accused Dela Rosa of pressuring him into implicating De Lima in illegal drugs.

Espinosa also said that Dela Rosa forced him to drag businessman Peter Lim into the drug trade.

“The PNP has nothing to do with that (illegal drug case). The only role of the PNP (Philippine National Police) is to serve the warrant,” he said.

“Why will I dictate (to him) whom should he implicate? That’s none of my business. I am the chief PNP. I am not an investigator,” said Dela Rosa.

The only time he met Espinosa, he said, was after the latter testified in the Senate about the supposed involvement of Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido in the illegal drug trade.

At the time, Dela Rosa said Espinosa admitted to him that he lied under oath in his testimony.

“Back then, he lied under oath. So right now (that) he’s also under oath before the quad comm, chances are that he’s also lying,” he pointed out.

Despite Espinosa’s claims against him, Dela Rosa said he does not plan on filing charges against him.

While he may summon Espinosa in a Senate investigation, he said it is not their priority.

“It’s embarrassing if I will hold a counter hearing at the Senate about that. The public would say that I am using my committee to clear myself. That’s self-serving,” said Dela Rosa.

He also ruled out attending the quad committee hearings where he has a standing invitation, saying the lawmakers are “clearly doing a demolition job” against him. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Janvic Mateo