3 aides of Kerwin Espinosa retract statements

ALBUERA, Leyte—Three aides of Kerwin Espinosa have accused this town’s top police officer, Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido, and PO3 Hydie Yutrago of fabricating affidavits that they were forced to sign implicating policemen in the illegal drug operations of the top drug lord in the region.

Espinosa, 31, son of slain Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., is scheduled to arrive in Manila on Friday from Abu Dhabi, where he was arrested on Oct. 17, according to Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa.

“He holds the key to the future of others involved in the illegal drug trade,” Dela Rosa said, referring to the younger Espinosa, who disappeared after he and his father were named by President Duterte on a list of prominent people involved in narcotics trafficking.

Dela Rosa said Espinosa would be detained at PNP headquarters in Camp Crame.

Galo Bobares, Max Miro and Brian Zaldivar—described as Espinosa’s “trusted men”—executed new affidavits recanting previous statements allegedly made under duress.

The new statements were taken by Adelito Solibaga Jr., a lawyer for Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez.

“They confirmed that the affidavits were ready-made when they were told to sign the same before a lawyer in Tacloban,” Solibaga said in a statement.

Gomez was one of the local officials who were linked by Mayor Espinosa to the drug operations of his son—a claim denied by the actor-turned-mayor.

The new affidavits were dated Nov. 10, five days after the elder Espinosa was killed inside his detention cell at the subprovincial jail in Baybay City, Leyte.

In his affidavit, Bobares said he appeared before Espenido on Sept. 6 to clear his name after he was accused of killing a certain Jabon in Albuera.

Upon instruction from Espenido,  Bobares said he identified three policemen who received allowances from Kerwin: a certain Manalo and Vañao,  members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group; and one Jabines, the former chief of the Albuera Police.

Miro, who surrendered to Espenido, identified six policemen who were allegedly involved in Kerwin’s illegal drug trade: SPO1 Erwin Manalo, PO2 Renato Miketpitket, PO2 Wenceslao Lomaquin, Senior Insp. Eufracio Javines, Chief Insp. Jesus Son, and Senior Insp. Bernie Magamay.

Zaldivar said he had no personal knowledge of who were receiving payola from Kerwin but he identified those whom he heard were part of the drug group.

Espenido denied he coerced the three men. “They must remember that they voluntarily approached me and manifested their intent to execute those affidavits,” he said,

Espenido said he believed Gomez  was behind the decision of the three witnesses to recant. “I knew it. I wonder why they only did it now,” he said. —WITH A REPORT FROM JEROME ANING IN MANILA