President Duterte's declaration came on the heels of an almost week's worth of speculation on who from Malacañang called Dela Rosa for the reinstatement of Superintendent Marvin Marcos even after he was named as a protector of drug dealers.
He said that he had asked Secretary Christopher "Bong" Go to call Dela Rosa as regards Marcos' removal from his post after he was implicated.
“Ganito yan, si Bong in-orderan ko, call. By the time pinasa niya, ang sumagot si dela Rosa. Sabi ko, do not remove the guy because kasali yan sa…"Duterte told CNN Philippines in a phone patch interview.
"I am doing an investigative job. Natapos na yun, si Dolina was cleared. Marcos, positive. Kasi I was keeping track of his movements. Alisin mo ako doon, mawala bigla ang… Mawala lahat. Hindi ko masundan," he added.
Asked what's next for Marcos after Duterte said he was involved in illegal drugs, the President said, "He has to face the charges."
"Let him maintain the right to be heard," Duterte said.
The PNP-Internal Affairs Service on Friday said Marcos and other policemen who figured in the alleged shootout that killed Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa have been released from restrictive custody in Camp Crame.
Chief Supt. Leo Angelo Leuterio, PNP-IAS deputy inspector general, said the police officers were released from custody so they could prepare their counter-affidavits in their defense.
"I'd like to make it public. Kaya sabi ko as it is kayo diyan. Doon ko nalaman na si Dolina malinis. Si Marcos, may tama. Kaya huwag mong galawin kasi gusto kong tignan," Duterte said of the when the concerned officers were being probed.
"Kung biglain mo, eh napuputol ang nagbi-build up ng kaso. Alam na natin na before Espinosa na wala siya sa unang listahan," he added.
Duterte indicated that there was nothing wrong with retaining Marcos even with the allegations against him.
"Whether or not you retain them, it does not really matter. Prerogative ni Bato iyan eh. Kahit na sabihin mo na kriminal iyan. Teka muna. Let the law take its own..." Duterte said.
"Huwag n'yong tanggalin... Nagpo-program pa kami dito kung totoo o hindi," he added.
"Second, low morale ang tao. Ang ibang pulis, hindi nila nalaman na we're doing the investigative work. Doing that, it will create a ripple in the entire country. Hindi ko masabi na relax lang kayo. We were really building the case."