CIDG-8 arrests one of Leyte's ‘big-time drug lords’, 12 others

ORMOC CITY, Philippines — The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, in coordination with the City Police, apprehended a big-time drug personality and 12 other suspects yesterday morning during a raid intended to catch another big-time drug suspect.

The raid was carried out on the house of Momasimban Limbano at Barangay Tambulilid in this city, and shots were fired when the police team arrived, but nobody was injured in the process.

Limbano, who last year was tagged as the operator of an “illegal cockpit” in the area where three people died during a buy-bust, however escaped arrest from the raiding team.

The team was able to confiscate a bulk of shabu and drug paraphernalia, as well as some firearms, from Limbano’s house, but failed to divulge to the media the amount of the seized illegal drugs, as they were still making an inventory, as of press time.

While Limbano escaped, the law enforcers caught instead, within his residence’s compound a certain Kerwin Espinoza, who the police alleged as one of the biggest drug traffickers hereabouts.

The raiding team also arrested 12 persons who were found inside Limbano’s house. They were brought to the Ormoc District Hospital for physical examination and then subjected to paraffin tests to determine who fired the shots against the authorities.

Four of the 12 were from this city: Jesus Tulin, 32, of Barangay Mabini, Jayson Albarado, 32, of Barangay Doña Feliza Mejia, Rodulfo Tabukol, 46, of  Barangay San Juan and Virgil Suan of  Barangay Sto. Niño.

The eight others were Sonny Marayan, 26, and Christian Cabigon, 26, both of  Barangay Dulho Fatima in Cebu City;  and Fernando Ipil Jr, 32, Roberto Luhuerta, 26, Kris Dominick Diano, 19, Nelso Pepito Jr. and Marcelo Adorco, 40, all of Barangay Benolo in Albuera town of Leyte where suspect Espinoza lives.

Senior Inspector Elvis Angay-angay, of the CIDG, said they could not yet give the media exact details of the raid as they were still processing the suspects and the scene of the crime. He also did not comment on whether they would be able to nail Espinoza for the drugs confiscated during the raid inside Limbano’s house. 

Espinoza, in an interview with The FREEMAN, denied he was a “drug lord”, adding he was just labeled so because of his past history and because people could see that his economic status has improved. He said he is now a legitimate businessman and owns several businesses.

Asked how he got the money to finance his ventures, he said he won P12-million in a derby at the Araneta Coliseum in 2012. “You can see that on YouTube,” he said, adding that his relatives abroad, who wanted him to reform his life, gave him money to finance his businesses.

Espinoza did not deny being caught in Cebu City in 2010 with some P 250,000 worth of shabu, but said the case was already dismissed.

When the raid was carried out yesterday, Espinoza claimed he was in Limbano’s compound to buy some fighting cocks because he wanted to re-stock his breed.

Espinoza’s counsel, Rogelio Bato, who came from Tacloban City, was already at the scene. He appealed to media to keep watch on him and his client in case something happens. The lawyer said he could not understand why his client was being detained when he was outside the house that was raided. (FREEMAN)