Rolando “Kerwin” Espinosa Jr. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
TACLOBAN CITY—At least 22 members of the Eastern Visayas police force had been charged with involvement in the drug syndicate led by allegedly the region’s biggest crime lord, Kerwin Espinosa, according to an officer who is investigating the links of government officials with the syndicate.
The policemen had been accused of receiving payoffs to protect Kerwin’s drug syndicate, according to Chief Insp. Jove Espenido, chief of police of Albuera town, Leyte province, who led the investigation of Kerwin’s syndicate.
Kerwin is son of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., who had been arrested for possession of drugs and unlicensed guns, and is believed to be involved, too, in Kerwin’s drug operations.
The charges, according to Espenido, were filed at the Eastern Visayas Police Regional Internal Affairs Services in Camp Ruperto Kangleon in Palo town on Thursday.
Espenido, who leads the investigation of Kerwin’s syndicate, said the 22 policemen are just the first batch of alleged protectors of Kerwin’s syndicate.
According to Espenido, the charges against the policemen were filed based on investigation results that included testimony from witnesses who had direct knowledge of the policemen’s involvement in Kerwin’s syndicate.
The policemen, Espenido said, had received cash and goods from Kerwin to turn a blind eye on Kerwin’s drug operations.
Espenido said aside from witnesses’ testimony, the names of the policemen were found in several logbooks being kept by an employee of the Espinosas.
Officers with ranks lower than senior superintendent were charged in the regional office. Espenido said officers with higher ranks will be charged in the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame.
Espenido said the filing of formal complaints against the officers would give justice to taxpayers who are paying for the officers’ salaries.
He said it is lamentable that taxes had been spent on the officers who, instead of doing their jobs, betrayed the people’s trust.
Espenido said aside from the administrative case that the officers are facing, a criminal case would be filed against them at the Office of the
Ombudsman.
Several cases in connection with Kerwin’s syndicate would also be filed at the Ombudsman including those against a senator, a governor, a congressman, mayors and village officials with links to Kerwin’s operations.
He refused to identify them.
Civilians involved in Kerwin’s syndicate, like journalists and retired government officials, would be charged at the Department of Justice.
More charges
According to Espenido, at least 80 people involved in Kerwin’s syndicate would be charged in the coming days.
Espenido identified the 22 officers who were charged administratively on Thursday as Supt. Neil Montano, Chief Insp. Jonathan Camacho, Chief Insp. Wilfredo Abordo, Chief Insp. Martin Pardinas, Senior Insp. Bernedie Magamay, Senior Insp. Eufracio Jabines, Senior Insp. Rio Tan, Senior Insp. Edwin Martinez Oluan, SPO3 Edgardo Bituin, SPO2 Frederick Cabaltera.
SPO1 Victor Plaza, SPO1 Kenneth Valley, SPO1 Romeo Blanco, PO3 Roberto Arafol, PO3 Francisco Jongjong Oliva, PO3 Edwin Jao, PO2 Jay Quilangtang, PO2 Marvin Parac, PO2 Wenceslao Lumakin, PO2 Renato Mekitpikit, PO2 Romeo Torres and PO1 Ronilo Felizarta.