Senators hope Espinosa sheds light on pa’s killing

Alleged Filipino drug lord Kerwin Espinosa listens to a question as he is presented to the media upon arrival from Abu Dhabi early Friday, Nov. 18, 2016 at Camp Crame in suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines. Espinosa, whose father Mayor Rolando Espinosa was killed inside his detention cell, told a news conference he will “tell all” those involved in the illegal drug trade in the country. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

Senators hope alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa could shed light on his father’s suspicious killing when he faces the Senate next week, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said yesterday.

“Remember, we want to get to the bottom of what the motive is. Kerwin might have an idea why his father was killed,” Lacson told reporters.

Lacson, chair of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, said he would also invite the police to appear at the continuation of the inquiry into the Nov. 5 killing of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa.

Espinosa returned to the Philippines under heavy guard early yesterday from the United Arab Emirates where he and his family fled to escape President Duterte’s brutal war on drugs.

Lacson said “jueteng” whistleblower Sandra Cam, who had spoken to Espinosa in Abu Dhabi, told him Espinosa confirmed the names of several people allegedly found in his father’s “blue book.”

“She [Cam] said [Espinosa] had revelations. He confirmed who is on payola [payoff]. He confirmed what was on the blue book. There were names that were validated,” Lacson said.

Asked if the names included a senator, Lacson said: “It’s better that he says it.”

The ledger submitted by Espinosa to the police purportedly contains names of politicians, members of the judiciary, military, police, jail and antidrug officers.

Cam’s secretary, an overseas worker based in Abu Dhabi, had tipped her on Espinosa and she passed this on to authorities.

Police had earlier testified at the Senate that Espinosa allegedly gave money to Sen. Leila de Lima during a meeting in Baguio early this year.

Asked about Espinosa’s expected testimony, De Lima said she won’t be surprised if she is again implicated by him.

“That would be the best way of staying alive. I have a hunch that that’s what’s going to happen, because they have made an example of his father,” said De Lima. “He has no choice … I can foresee that he will also lie.” —TARRA QUISMUNDO