Kerwin to be detained at Camp Crame

MANILA, Philippines - Alleged drug lord Rolando “Kerwin” Espinosa, who is slated to arrive early morning today from Dubai, will be taken straight to the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters at Camp Crame, Quezon City where he will be detained under tight security.

Authorities still have to decide whether Espinosa will be allowed to fly to Leyte to enable him to pay his last respects to his slain father and at the same time be presented before the court for the drug charges filed against him.

“We want to ensure his safety… as stated by our PNP chief (Director General Ronald dela Rosa). We need to implement stricter security measures. We want Kerwin alive. He will be under the custody of the PNP upon arrival from the United Arab Emirates,” PNP spokesman Senior Supt Dionardo Carlos said in a press briefing yesterday.

Dela Rosa previously ruled out Espinosa’s going to Leyte, citing security reasons.

Dela Rosa said the PNP and the Department of Justice are working on not presenting Espinosa before the Leyte courts and to have his drug case transferred to a court in Metro Manila.

On his flight back from Dubai, where he was arrested while trying to prolong his stay, Espinosa will be escorted by a team from the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (AIDG) with whistleblower Sandra Cam.

The PNP is throwing a three-layered security around Camp Crame to ensure Espinosa’s safety.

The PNP-Aviation Security Group has secured the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 where the airplane carrying Espinosa from Dubai is expected to land.

Espinosa is expected to arrive at the NAIA Terminal 2 on board PAL flight 657 at 3:00 a.m. today.

Considered as a vital witness in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs, DOJ is planning to place Espinosa under the government’s Witness Protection Program (WPP).

Espinosa had reportedly informed government representatives in Dubai about his readiness to reveal the key personalities whom his late father had linked to his illegal drug business in Eastern Visayas, on the condition that he and his immediate family members are secured.

Espinosa agreed to turn state witness after learning that his father and namesake, Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa was killed by policemen while in detention.

The elder Espinosa was killed during a supposed shootout with policemen from the regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) who were serving a search warrant in his detention cell at Baybay City, Leyte on Nov. 5.

Another inmate, Raul Yap, who was facing drug trafficking charges, was also killed.

The killing further raised Kerwin’s fears that he would suffer the same fate as that of his father if his security is compromised upon his return.

On the other hand, the lone witness presented by the CIDG in their effort to secure the search warrant from the court went missing along with his family.