Kerwin Espinosa claims father’s slay ordered by ex-president Duterte

By Filane Mikee Cervantes, Philippine News Agency

NEW TWIST. Self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa cries while giving his testimony during the eighth public hearing of the House of Representatives quad committee on Friday (Oct. 11, 2024). Espinosa claimed that former president Rodrigo Duterte ordered the 2016 killing of his father, Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)

MANILA – Self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa claimed on Friday that former president Rodrigo Duterte ordered the 2016 killing of his father, Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa, during the previous administration’s war on drugs.

During the eighth public hearing of the House quad committee, Espinosa testified that Duterte’s public threats to kill those on the so-called narco-list led him to believe the former president was behind his father’s death.

“Tayong mga Pilipino, nakita natin sa TV na ang dating presidente nagsasabi na patayin nya lahat ng mga nasa narco-list. So pagkaintindi ko, siya talaga ang nag-utos na patayin ang papa ko (We Filipinos saw on TV that the former president said he would kill everyone on the narco-list. So, from what I understand, he really ordered the killing of my father),” Espinosa said when questioned by Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr.

The late mayor, who surrendered to the police after being linked to the illegal drug trade, was killed in November 2016 inside his jail cell.

Kerwin Espinosa also accused Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, the first Philippine National Police (PNP) chief of the Duterte administration, of pressuring him to confess to drug involvement and implicate high-profile figures, including former senator Leila De Lima, in the drug trade.

In his sworn affidavit, Espinosa alleged that Dela Rosa told him the instructions came from higher authorities.

“Sinabihan ako ni Bato na may basbas ‘yan sa taas at ang ibig sabihin nito ay alam ito ni Presidente Rodrigo Duterte (Bato told me that there is a blessing from above and this means that [then] President Rodrigo Duterte knows about it),” Espinosa said.

Asked by lawmakers if Dela Rosa directed him on what to say during Senate hearings, Espinosa answered in the affirmative.

“Exactly, Your Honor, sya talaga ang nag-utos sa akin at nagplano kung ano ang mga sasabihin ko sa Senado (Exactly your Honor, he really ordered me and planned what I would say in the Senate),” Espinosa said.