Lacson wants Kerwin Espinosa to testify in Senate

Senator Panfilo Lacson is eyeing the testimony of the son of slain Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. to find out the real motive behind his death.

After holding eight hours hearing this Thursday, Lacson admitted that the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, which he chairs, has yet to establish a clear motive why Espinosa and another inmate, Raul Yap, were killed during a predawn raid by members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection (CIDG) in Eastern Samar last November 5.

So far, he said, there were indications that Espinosa’s death was premeditated, citing a raiding team’s request for the scene of the crime operatives (Soco) even before they raided the jail.

Lacson said there were also “telltale signs” that the raiding team used the implementation of a search warrant in the jail to give its operation a “semblance of legitimacy.”

“If they were acting on their own, yan ang gusto natin ma-establish. Ano ang motive?” he told reporters after the hearing.

The senator believes that Espinosa’s son and suspected top drug lord, Kerwin, could shed light on his death. Kerwin was arrested in Abu Dhabi last Oct. 17.

“Siya ang be-all and end-all, siya ang central figure pagdating sa usapan na ito,” Lacson said.

“Pag dumating si Kerwin mas mainam siya ang masala nang husto. Di ko alam how. Kasi pagdating niya ise-serve ang arrest warrant sa kanya and he will be brought before the court sa judge na nag-issue ng warrant.”

“Kailangan may leave of court kung maimbita natin. If not, probably the committee can even go to, say, Leyte, to conduct a hearing there, with the permission of course ng huwes,” he said.

Lacson said Kerwin is the only one who could really identify the alleged drug protectors listed in the so-called “blue book” of the slain mayor.

If Kerwin would be allowed to face the Senate probe, the senator said he would ask the suspected drug lord to identify the personalities allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.