Cop in Espinosa killing had asked P3M from Kerwin — Pacquiao

A police official who led the raid that led to the death of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Jr., had demanded P3 million and received P1.5 million from Kerwin Espinosa, Senator Manny Pacquiao said on Tuesday, citing his conversation with the alleged drug lord.

The mayor handed the P1.5 million to Supt. Marvin Marcos, the relieved head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Eastern Visayas (CIDG-8), said Pacquiao, recalling what Kerwin had told him.

“Ang sabi n’ya yung si Marcos, kinakausap daw s’ya dahil tumatakbo yung misis. Hinihingian s’ya ng P3 million,” the senator told Headstart, a morning show on the ABS CBN News Channel.

“Tapos nagtawaran pa. Malaki yata ‘yung P3 million, P2.5 million lang. Hindi talaga P2.5 million ang naibigay kundi P1.5 million lang pauna,” Pacquiao said.

“’Yung pera na yun, tatay n’ya ang nagbigay, nag abot kay Supt. Marcos,” he added.

Kerwin reportedly stayed inside the car during the hand-over of the money.

“Kasama sya pero hindi na sya bumaba kasi baka maraming makakita so nandyan lang sya sasakyan. Yun ang kwento nya, tatay n’ya nag-abot dun kay Marcos,” he said.

Marcos has appeared and testified before the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs investigating the death of the mayor inside his cell at the Baybay, Leyte sub-provincial jail before dawn of November 5.

During the hearing, the police official claimed that he was outside the compound of the provincial jail when his raiding team served the search warrant on the mayor, who ended up killed allegedly after a firefight.

But Pacquiao said Kerwin believed that his father was killed to silence him.

“Sabi nya nga sa akin: ‘Pinatay ang tatay ko dahil para hindi ako magsalita pero ngayon magsasalita talaga ako. Sasabihin ko lahat ng mga tumanggap at nabigyan ko ng pera’,” the senator said, still quoting Kerwin.

Pacquiao said he believed Kerwin was telling the truth. CBB/rga