WHILE he vouched for the integrity of Lieutenant Colonel Jovie Espenido, Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said the latter should stop speaking about his inclusion in the drug list especially if it will affect the whole Philippine National Police (PNP).

Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, said Espenido should respect the ongoing adjudication on the allegations against him and 356 other policemen who are on the drug list.

“Please tell him to stop talking. Sinisira lang nya ang sarili n’ya pag ganon. It’s not helping. Talking indiscrimately is not observing proper decorum. Otherwise, kung gusto niyang magsalita ng magsalita against sa PNP, lumabas siya o umalis siya from the organization. Magkakaroon tayo ng loyalty check pag ganon,” dela Rosa said in a press conference in Camp Crame Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020.

“He is my man, and as I have said, I am vouching for his integrity. Kilala ko siya na matino siya, pero kung salita siya ng salita ng ganun na magiging (I know him to be upright but if he keeps on talking that way, it will be) out of bounds,” he added.

Dela Rosa also brushed aside Espenido’s statement that no other entity would kill him but the government, particularly the police. Dela Rosa said only erring cops involved in illegal drugs would want Espenido’s execution.

Dela Rosa said he did not see Espenido’s name on the list when he served as PNP chief from 2016 to 2017.

“Otherwise, I will not appoint him as (police chief) of Albuera, Leyte and then later in Ozamiz if there was such a report,” Dela Rosa said in Tagalog.

“Lumabas lang out of thin air,” he added.

“PNP should get to the bottom of this issue. Most likely, a police syndicate made that report,” dela Rosa said in Tagalog. (SunStar Philippines)