PNP chief Dir. Gen. Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa presents suspected Eastern Visayas drug lord Kerwin Espinosa to media at Camp Crame early Friday morning, November 18, 2016. Espinosa, son of slain Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa, is the alleged Eastern Visayas drug lord. Espinosa was brought to Manila after five months of hiding in Abu Dhabi. (MNS photo)
MANILA, Nov 16 (Mabuhay) – Alleged Eastern Visayas top drug lord Kerwin Espinosa is asking to be placed under the government’s Witness Protection Program, with the promise that he will reveal all that he knows about the illegal drug trade, Philippine Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Constancio Vingno Jr. said Wednesday.
“’Ang request niya, na he be placed under the Witness Protection Program and he will tell all,” Vingno said.
The Philippine envoy was able to meet with Espinosa last week at the Wadha Jail in Abu Dhabi, where the alleged drug lord has been detained since he was arrested by local authorities last October 17.
The request comes as the alleged drug lord is said to fear for his life, as well as that of his family’s, after the killing of his father, Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., inside the Leyte Sub-Provincial Jail last November 5.
DOJ Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Monday said that they are inclined to place Kerwin under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Vingno said the younger Espinosa has yet to give a sworn statement to Philippine authorities, who are currently processing papers for his deportation, expected later this week.
He added that the alleged drug lord’s revelations will likely be similar to those of his late father.
“Palagay ko po ‘di nagkakaiba ‘yon. Kung anong alam ng ama niya, ‘yon din ang alam ni Kerwin,” Vingno said. “Sinabi niya na don’ raw [sa affidavit] po siya magsasalita… under oath.”
Meanwhile, Vingno said they have not been informed on whether there would be sanctions for whoever rented the apartment for Espinosa, his wife, and three children.
“Wala pa naman po,” he replied when asked about the matter. “Otherwise nalaman na po namin kung may pananagutan… ‘Yung may isa siyang kaibigan na hindi naman namin nakikita at nakikilala. ‘Yung kumupkop sa kanila.”
He noted that only residents may rent spaces in Abu Dhabi, with one-year payment in advance.
“Surely resident ang umupa para sa kanila. Maaaring kaibigan niya po,” he said, adding that this person is “most probably Filipino.”
Vingno noted, however: “Hindi naman po natin kaagad ma-establish na may kinalaman ‘yung umupa for him [sa drug trade].” (MNS)