ONE of the country’s most wanted drug traffickers, Rolando “Kerwin” Espinosa Jr., was arrested in Abu Dhabi Sunday night, leading the Justice Department to suggest that he might be used as a witness in the illegal drug cases against former Justice secretary and now Senator Leila de Lima.
Kerwn Espinosa, tagged as the top drug lord in Eastern Visayas, was arrested by Abu Dhabi authorities following a tip from overseas Filipino workers at about 10 p.m., Philippine National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa said after receiving reports of the arrest.
Dela Rosa said Kerwin, son of Albuera Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa, is under the custody of the Abu Dhabi police and will be repatriated to the country once an investigation has been completed.
Espinosa, along with his father Rolando Sr., was tagged by President Rodrigo Duterte in a matrix of drug trade figures.
PNP Anti-illegal Drugs Group (AIDG) director Sr. Supt Albert Ignatuis Ferro in bringing Espinosa back to Manila, possibly today, on the first available flight, once the paperwork has been cleared with the Abu Dhabi police, Dela Rosa said.
The younger Espinosa went into hiding for three months even before a warrant of arrest had been issued against him, and reportedly fled to Malaysia.
Dela Rosa said Espinosa was working with a travel agency to extend his stay in Abu Dhabi.
Upon learning that Espinosa was in Abu Dhabi, Dela Rosa said they issued a “red notice” to the Abu Dhabi authorities for his arrest.
“The Abu Dhabu police did not act until the red notice has been issued by the Interpol. Upon receipt of the notice, the team of Ferro immediately secured the supposed hiding place of Kerwin leading to his arrest,” Dela Rosa said.
Ambassador to UAE Constancio Vingno said Espinosa has been in Abu Dhabi since September on a visitor’s visa.
Vingno told the Gulf News that the authorities were also investigating who helped Espinosa get an apartment without a residence visa, and whether he conducted his drug business in Abu Dhabi.
“Should that be the case, that’s another thing. There are consequences to that,” he said.
Following news of Espinosa’s arrest, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said the suspected drug lord could be used as a witness in the case against De Lima.
Aguirre said Espinosa may consider spilling the beans on his alleged links to De Lima, who is facing preliminary investigation before the Justice Department for allegedly conspiring with other former officials to collect drug money from high-profile inmates in the New Bilibid Prison.
“If he passes the assessment of the WPP [witness protection program], then we will offer immunity to Kerwin,” Aguirre said.
He cited a photo showing De Lima and Espinosa as possible proof of their close relationship.
Aguirre said Espinosa and De Lima were both named respondents in the drug charges filed before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas last week by Albuera, Leyte chief of police Chief Insp. Juvie Espinido.
Also included in the complaint filed at the Ombudsman Regional Office 8 in Tacloban City were three members of the Leyte media—broadcasters Leo Dumon and John Pilapil, and local newspaper publisher Lalaine Jimenea-Ronda, Cebu Vice Mayor Jonnah John Ungab, a lawyer of the Espinosas; Victor Espina, Winnie Codilla, Joseph Nunez, and Nelson Pepito Jr., a councilman of Barangay Binolho in Albuera.
The complaint was filed following the arraignment of Espinosa’s father, Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa, before a trial court in Baybay City on firearms and drug charges.
The Espinosas were among the first to be publicly accused by President Rodrigo Duterte of involvement in the illegal drug trade. Soon after, the mayor turned himself in to Dela Rosa and eventually returned to Albuera to resume his duties.
Malacañang said they would leave it up to the legal system to handle the Espinosa case.
“There’s no statement except that I suppose… except that the process of law it may be slow, but it’s consistent,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a press briefing. With Sandy Araneta