Cop tagged in mayor’s slay denies he’s in Kerwin’s payola

Region 8 CIDG Regional Director Marvin Marcos reacts as alleged drug lord turned witness Kerwin Espinosa point that he gave money to him during the Senate probe. Richard A. Reyes/INQUIRER

Superintendent Marvin Marcos, the sacked director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Eastern Visayas, vehemently denied that he was in the payroll of suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa.

“Hindi totoo ‘yun (That’s not true),” Marcos told Senate reporters on Wednesday when asked about Espinosa’s alleged claim that he had demanded P3 million from him.

“Ang nagsasalita po kriminal, arestado po ‘yan, hindi naman po sumurender na tao ‘yan e (The one making that claim is a criminal; he did not surrender, he was arrested) ,” the police official added.

Senator Manny Pacquiao claimed that based in his conversation with Espinosa, the latter told him that Marcos demanded P3 million from him but gave only P1.5 million.

READ: Cop in Espinosa killing had asked P3M from Kerwin — Pacquiao

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, chair of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs investigating the killing of Espinosa’s father, slain Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., confirmed that Marcos was mentioned by Kerwin in a draft affidavit as among those in his payroll.

READ: Kerwin says 3 CIDG men on his payroll– Lacson

Lacson said Kerwin also named two other members of the CIDG-Region 8 who are allegedly in the latter’s payroll. They were Chief Insp. Leo Laraga, leader of the raiding team, and Supt. Santi Noel Matira, raiding team supervisor. IDL