Exclusive - 'Mabuti pa siya at alam niyang mamamatay si Kerwin'-PNP Chief Dela Rosa on De Lima’s Prediction of Kerwin Espinosa’s Death!

“Mabuti pa siya at alam niya ang mangyayari kay Kerwin. Kami we are trying very hard to secure him at siya pinepredict na niya na papatayin. E bakit naman ganun ang pag-iisip ng isang tao”

These are the words of PNP Chief Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa when he was asked about Sen. Leila De Lima’s prediction that the alleged Eastern Samar drug lord Kerwin Espinosa will die despite cooperating with the government.

In a press conference on Monday, PNP Chief Dela Rosa assured that the whole PNP consisting of 160,000 policemen will assure the safety of Espinosa.

“The whole organization, 160,000 of us, kung meron pang scalawag sa amin na gustong pumatay kay Kerwin maliit lang yan kumpara sa buong PNP. Mabuti pa siya at alam niyang mamamatay si Kerwin, ako hindi ko alam kung mamamatay but ang alam ko we are doing our best to secure Kerwin Espinosa,” he said.

The PNP Chief also hinted that they are willing to give their lives just to assure Espinosa’s safety.

“Over our dead body kung mamatay siya (Espinosa),” Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa's statements came after De Lima’s prediction on Sunday that Kerwin will end up like his father.

“This is my advice to Kerwin. Don’t ever think that your 'cooperation' will spare you your life. Sooner or later this government is going to make sure you end up like your father,” De Lima said in a press statement.

Kerwin’s father, Rolando Espinosa, the late mayor of Albuera, Leyte, was shot dead on November 5, while in prison during an alleged shootout. Officials of Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Region 8 claimed that they shot the elder Espinosa as he pulled a gun on them.

Kerwin, on the other hand, was arrested at Abu Dhabi last month and as returned to the Philippines for further investigation.