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By Prince Golez, Manila Reporter
MANILA – Self-confessed drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa claimed he gave around P8 million for the senatorial campaign of then Justice secretary Sen. Leila de Lima during the investigation into the death his father, Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa on Wednesday.
The money was delivered through de Lima’s former bodyguard and driver Ronnie Dayan, Espinosa testified. The younger Espinosa also said he and de Lima met in Baguio City November last year.
De Lima, however, reiterated that she has never received drug money from the younger Espinosa.
“I categorically, firmly, and absolutely deny having known Mr. Kerwin Espinosa. I do not remember any instance or occasion of having met him,” the senator said during her brief manifestation on Kerwin’s testimony.
“I categorically, firmly, and absolutely deny having received any money, any cash from [him], either directly or indirectly through anyone else, in any occasion at any time, whether that money is supposedly for either protection or fund-raising for campaign expenses.”
De Lima also said she refuses to cross-examine the resource person because “there would be questions on my objectivity” since she was linked in the illegal drug trade.
In her final message, de Lima told Kerwin: “May God forgive you for all your sins, and may God forgive you for all your lies about me. And I forgive you.”
At Wednesday’s hearing, Kerwin said he sold between P30 million and P60 million worth of drugs from 2015 to 2016. He added that every year he spends P20 million for payola and payoffs./PN
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