[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’‘Kerwin wants to be placed under WPP’’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
MANILA – Rolando “Kerwin” Espinosa Jr., alleged big-time drug lord in Eastern Visayas, wants to be placed under the Witness Protection Program (WPP) of the Department of Justice (DOJ) once he returns to the Philippines from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said he received a letter from the Philippine ambassador to UAE Constancio Vingno Jr., saying Espinosa has expressed intention to be placed under the WPP.
“He could qualify for WPP because he appears to be not most guilty (in the drug trafficking crime),” Aguirre told a news conference. “When there’s someone else from the government, then that person could be most guilty.”
Aguirre said Kerwin must first execute an affidavit before he can be admitted to the WPP.
While the affidavit executed by his father lost its probative value, he could corroborate it through his own affidavit, the Justice secretary said.
Espinosa, who was arrested in the UAE after months of hiding, was set to return to the Philippines. A three-officer team from the Philippine National Police (PNP) leaving on Sunday will fetch him, Aguirre said.
Upon arrival Espinosa will be taken to the PNP custodial center first before he could be turned over to the WPP custody, said Aguirre.
Kerwin’s father, Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. of Albuera, Leyte, was shot and killed along with another inmate at the Baybay Provincial Jail on Nov. 5.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier tagged Mayor Espinosa as one of the politicians linked to the drug trade.
Aguirre said the government needs to be extra careful in securing Espinosa after the killing of his father. The Justice department ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate the incident. (PNA)
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
