Kerwin Espinosa to arrive in Manila early Friday

Suspected drug lord Rolando “Kerwin” Espinosa Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Kerwin Espinosa, son of slain Albuera, Leyte, Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., will arrive in the Philippines early morning Friday from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said on Wednesday.

Dela Rosa, in a press conference at Camp Crame, said Chief Supt. Albert Ferro of the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (AIDG) told him they would possibly arrive in Manila around 2 to 3 a.m. on Friday.

Ferro and other members of the AIDG flew to Abu Dhabi last Sunday to fetch and escort Kerwin back to the country.

Kerwin, tagged as the biggest drug lord in Eastern Visayas, was arrested by the Abu Dhabi police in coordination with AIDG and Interpol on Oct. 17.

From the airport, Dela Rosa said the police would bring Kerwin to the AIDG headquarters at Camp Crame.

The police chief also promised to ensure Kerwin’s safety following the death of the older Espinosa during a raid inside his cell in Baybay City sub-provincial jail in Leyte on Nov. 4.

The warrant served on Kerwin was issued by the Regional Trial Court of Baybay, Leyte, for illegal possession of firearms. After his arrest, Kerwin has to return the arrest warrant to its court of origin. The court will then release a commitment order and decide where Espinosa will be detained.

But due to security reasons, Dela Rosa said they would ask the court to allow them to skip Kerwin’s presentation to the return the warrant “so the risk will be lesser.”

“(Kerwin is) very important because he holds the key to the future of others involved in the illegal drug trade,” he said.

Earlier, Dela Rosa said the police would try to secure an affidavit from Kerwin while he is under the custody of the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

But he later said Kerwin could only execute an affidavit once he was turned over to the police.

“Ang initial na balak doon kukunan sa embassy but hindi pala ganun gagawin nilang protocol. Turnover is doon sa eroplano pagpasok sa pintuan ng eroplano so hindi na makakadaan sa embassy,” he said.