Pacquiao visits Kerwin Espinosa in Camp Crame

Senator Manny Pacquiao visited on Friday morning Kerwin Espinosa, alleged top drug kingpin in Eastern Visayas, in Camp Crame where the latter is detained following his arrest in Abu Dhabi.

The meeting was upon the request of Espinosa, according to his lawyers Lani Villarin and John Ungab.

In an interview outside the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (AIDG) office, where Espinosa will execute an affidavit, the lawyers said Pacquiao asked Espinosa if he would be willing to testify before the Senate as it conducts an inquiry on the death of his father, Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.

The older Espinosa and fellow inmate Raul Yap were killed in a police raid inside his cell at the Baybay City sub-provincial jail in Leyte allegedly after he opened fire on the operatives.

“The meeting was by the request of Kerwin Espinosa,” Villarin said.

“Tinanong ni Senator Pacman kung anong nangyari, kung kailan siya umalis, mga ganong personal matters,” she said.

Pacquiao, in an interview with ABS-CBN, said Espinosa gave him a detailed account of the drug suspect’s transaction with high-profile government officials.

“Nagpapasalamat ako dahil sa akin unang-una nagtiwala siya sa akin. Isinawalat niya lahat ng nalalaman niya. Hindi ko na babanggitin ang pangalan pero na-surprise ako na ‘yung mga binabanggit niyang pangalan, na-confirm pa niya at idinetalye kung ano ang mga ginawa nilang activities, paano niya binigyan, kung anong buwan o taon,” Pacquiao said.

READ: Bato: Kerwin Espinosa is ‘missing piece in drug trade puzzle’

Pacquiao and Espinosa were joined by PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa but he did not stay throughout the hour-long meeting.

The AIDG will start gathering information from Espinosa Friday afternoon. Espinosa earlier vowed to tell all about the protectors and distributors involved in his drug network.

Villarin said Espinosa’s list contains names of ranking government officials and members of the police.

The lawyers said they will accompany Espinosa while he executes an affidavit before AIDG’s Legal and Investigation Division Chief Atty. Enrico Rigor.

After giving a statement, Espinosa will be brought to the PNP Custodial Center, where other high-profile detainees, including Senators Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada, are detained.

Dela Rosa presented Espinosa in public after personally escorting the drug suspect from the airport. The convoy bearing them arrived in the police camp at 4:25 a.m.

Espinosa fell into authorities’ hands last Oct. 17 after several months in hiding. CDG/rga

READ: Kerwin Espinosa says sorry to Duterte, asks for second chance

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