Security tight for Kerwin’s arrival

Alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa is set to arrive before dawn today (Friday) from Abu Dhabi in the Middle East amid tight security to ensure his safety, officials said.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa has ordered police to ensure the safety of the fugitive, who went into hiding in October after he and his father, Rolando, were named by President Duterte as among the top drug lords in the country, police spokesperson Supt. Dionardo Carlos said.

Rolando Espinosa Sr., the mayor of Albuera town in Leyte,  was slain early this month in an alleged shootout with operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group who stormed his jail cell in search of illegal drugs.

He had earlier implicated 225 personalities led by ex-justice secretary and now Sen. Leila de Lima in the illegal drug trade which he and his son allegedly dominated in the province.

Safety

“We want to ensure his safety. As stated by our PNP chief, we need to implement a stricter security measure. We want Kerwin alive,” Carlos said, stressing that the suspect would remain under the custody of the PNP upon arrival.

Senior Supt. Albert Ignatius Ferro, head of the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs,  and his team had flown to Abu Dhabi to escort the younger Espinosa. They are expected to arrive between 2 and 3 a.m. on Friday.

Carlos said Kerwin would be whisked to Camp Crame immediately after arriving. He would then be transferred to the PNP Custodial Center after being presented to the press—not in Leyte, where he is facing illegal possession of firearms and drugs charges.

At least three layers of security protocols would be in place for the accreditation of media men before they are allowed entry to the briefing room in Camp Crame.

Carlos said Kerwin would undergo medical examination and booking process, and asked to execute a sworn statement naming drug personalities, including protectors, in Eastern Visayas.

The National Capital Region Police Office is to deploy its own units to guard the perimeter and routes to be taken by the police convoy on the way to the camp.—WITH A REPORT FROM JOEY A. GABIETA