Court acquits Kerwin Espinosa of gun raps

MANILA, Philippines — A Manila court has acquitted self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa of illegal possession of firearms and explosives recovered when police raided his father’s house in Leyte in 2016.

In a 46-page decision released yesterday, Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 16 Presiding Judge Janice Yulo-Antero said the prosecution “failed to prove the guilt” of Espinosa beyond reasonable doubt.

The court noted that witness Marcelo Adorco withdrew his statements alleging Espinosa owned the cache of firearms and explosives confiscated during a raid on the house of slain mayor Rolando Espinosa of Albuera, Leyte in August 2016.

During the drug raid, police recovered 5.56-caliber rifles, 9mm pistol, .45-caliber guns and a 9mm submachine pistol. The firearms were owned by the elder Espinosa, according to Adorco, who served as the former mayor’s bodyguard.

Adorco maintained that Kerwin “had no knowledge about these.”

Raymund Palad, lawyer for Kerwin, said his client was abroad when the raid happened.

Kerwin is still facing charges of illegal drug trade and money laundering.

He had testified against former senator Leila de Lima when the Duterte administration accused her of accepting payola from drug dealers at the New Bilibid Prison.

Kerwin claimed that he helped finance De Lima’s campaign for a Senate seat using drug money.

De Lima, who has been in detention for more than six years, has been acquitted in two of three drug cases filed against her before the Muntinlupa courts.