Aguirre: Kerwin Espinosa wants witness protection

MANILA, Philippines (Philippines News Agency) — Rolan "Kerwin" Espinosa Jr., the alleged big-time drug lord from the Eastern Visayas, wants to be placed in the Witness Protection Program of the Department of Justice once he returns from the United Arab Emirates.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II made the statement after he received a letter from the Philippine ambassador to UAE Constancio Vingno Jr., saying Espinosa has expressed his intention to be placed under the WPP.

"He could qualify for WPP because he appears to be not the most guilty (in the drug trafficking crime). When there's someone else from the government, then that person could be the most guilty," Aguirre told reporters in a press conference.

Aguirre said Kerwin must first execute an affidavit before he can be admitted to the WPP.

He said that while the affidavit executed by his father lost its probative value, he could corroborate it through his own affidavit.

Espinosa, who was arrested in the United Arab Emirates after months of hiding, is set to return to the country as he would be fetched by the Philippine National Police from the UAE, Aguirre said.

He said three PNP officers are set to leave for Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

Aguirre said once Espinosa arrives, he will be brought to the PNP custodial center before being turned over with his sworn statement to WPP custody.

Kerwin's father, Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa, who was earlier tagged by President Rodrigo Duterte as one of the politicians linked to the illegal drugs trade, was shot and killed along with another inmate at the Baybay Sub-Provincial Jail on Nov. 5. 

The Senate held a hearing on Espinosa's death on Thursday over concerns that it was an extrajudicial killing.

Aguirre said that the government needs to be extra careful in securing Espinosa after the mayor's death.

The DOJ has already ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to probe the mayor's killing during a supposed shootout with policemen serving a search warrant.

Aguirre said Espinosa’s family also needs be secured.

Last October, his former wife Annalou Llaguno, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen riding motorcycle.

“I was told even the family because of what happened to his father, Kerwin is afraid of his safety as well as that of his family. So, either we are going to accept him at the WPP kasama yung pamilya niya (Either we are going to accept him alone or we will also place his family under the WPP),” he added.

Meanwhile, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who spearheaded the probe on the killing of the Albuera town mayor says the government must protect Kerwin once he is brought back to the Philippines, as he can identify his supposed protectors in government.

Sought for comment on the ongoing Senate hearing, Aguirre urged Sen. Leila de Lima to inhibit from the investigation since she was implicated by the late mayor in Kerwin's alleged illegal drugs operations. —PNA with a report from Philstar.com/Rosette Adel