For pressuring him to namedrop on drug list
ALBUERA, Leyte– Mayoral candidate Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa of this town has urged his supporters not to vote for reelectionist Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, accusing the senator of coercing him into fabricating stories during his testimony before a Senate inquiry on illegal drugs in 2016.
Espinosa claimed that Police Lt. Col. Juvie Espenido acted as the intermediary, pressuring him into making false accusations.
During a press conference held on Saturday, October 5, Espinosa recounted the difficult situation he faced when his father, former Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., was killed inside his jail cell under suspicious circumstances.
According to Espinosa, his father was unarmed and defenseless when he was shot by police officers who falsely claimed he fought back.
The death of his father, Espinosa emphasized, left him with little choice but to comply with the demands of authorities out of fear for the safety of his remaining family members.
“They had already killed my father. I feared the same fate would befall my family if I didn’t do what they asked. If they wanted me to admit to anything, even if it were the killing of Jose Rizal, I would have done it out of fear,” Espinosa said, expressing the immense pressure he was under.
Espinosa also firmly denied any involvement in drug syndicates, contradicting his earlier claims made during the Senate investigation.
He insisted that he was never the “drug lord of Eastern Visayas,” a label he says was forced upon him by Senator dela Rosa.
In his apology to former senator Leila de Lima, who has been imprisoned on drug-related charges following his testimony, Espinosa admitted that his accusations were false and made under duress.
He expressed remorse for the consequences his false testimony had on De Lima’s life and called on his supporters to reject dela Rosa in the upcoming elections.
“I am appealing to all of my supporters not to vote for Bato. He pressured me into lying, and innocent people like my father and Senator de Lima suffered because of it,” Espinosa declared.
When asked about his preferred candidate for the position of 4th District representative of Leyte, Espinosa remained vague.
He stated that he would only support local candidates from Leyte, but did not elaborate further.
The two main contenders for the post are incumbent Rep. Richard Gomez and former 3rd district congressman Vicente Veloso.
Espinosa’s candidacy for mayor of Albuera, along with his outspoken stance against Sen. dela Rosa, has drawn significant attention, especially given his past admissions and involvement in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
Now running as a reformed figure, Espinosa seeks to shed his former image and win the trust of voters, positioning himself as an advocate for justice and accountability.
(ROBERT DEJON)
