Kerwin names drug sources in Senate hearing
Alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa (right) talks with PNP chief Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa during the Senate hearing on Nov. 23, 2016. RICHARD REYES / PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER
Kerwin Espinosa, reportedly the biggest drug lord in Eastern Visayas, revealed on Wednesday before the Senate his sources of drugs before he was arrested hiding as fugitive in Abu Dhabi in the Middle East last Oct. 17.
Reading his affidavit before the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, Kerwin said his top sources of drugs were alleged drug lord Jeffrey “Jaguar” Diaz and a certain Lovely Adam Impal.
Espinosa claimed that he had been transacting with them since 2005 when he was still an underling of Diaz, tagged as the No. 1 drug lord of Central Visayas. Diaz was killed by policemen in a shootout in Las Piñas City, on June 17.
READ: Kerwin Espinosa to give testimony in Senate probe on pa’s killing
The Senate committee is probing the death of Kerwin’s father Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. inside his cell during a police search at the Baybay Sub-provincial Jail last Nov. 5.
Kerwin said it was Diaz who introduced him to Impal when they met inside the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center (BBRC) in Lahug, Cebu City.
“Supplier ko si Lovely Adam Impal at Jaguar kasi sila ang malalaking negosyante ng shabu sa panahon na ‘yon,” he said.
Impal is a native of Cagayan De Oro but she owns properties in Iligan City, Bukidnon province, said Kerwin.
While inside the jail, Kerwin said he would ask his men, including a village councilor, to sell drugs he supplied from Impal.
“One hundred percent alam ko na buhay pa siya (Impal). Sabi niya nakatira siya sa Makati (City) pero walang specific address,” he said. Asked to describe Impal, Kerwin said: “Maputi siya, mahaba ang buhok. Medyo may kalakihan at mestiza na babae.”
Bilibid dealers
While inside the jail, Kerwin said he would ask his men, including a village councilor, to sell drugs he supplied from Impal and Diaz.
“Kukuha kami kay Lovely at Jaguar in consignment basis. Tapos distribute sa tao on consignment basis pa din. Kapag na-distribute na sa mga tao para maging pera, kolekta naman tapos ibabayad sa supplier. Hahatiin namin ang ibabayad sa dalawang supplier hangga’t mabayaran ‘yon,” he recalled.
The proceeds from Kerwin’s drug deals will then be delivered to Diaz through his brother Ryan while Impal receives her share in her bank account. The remaining collectibles will go to Kerwin.
He said he could produce up to P1.5 million in a single drug deal while being in detention.
When he was transferred to the medium security compound of the New Bilibid Prison, Kerwin met freed Vizconde massacre suspect Hubert Webb, Chinese drug lord Peter Co, slain inmate Tony Co, Eugene Chua and a certain Boss Hanz there.
He said Webb and other inmates had asked him to join the “Sputnik” Gang when they knew that Kerwin was a big-time drug dealer in Cebu.
“Nagsimula ang transaction namin sa mga Chinese at pinag-agawan nila ako. Ang unang nagsimula ng nag-supply sa akin ng shabu ay si Peter Co,” he said.
Kerwin initially received four kilos of metamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” from Co until he started getting up to 10 kilos from the Chinese drug lord.
Kerwin and Co’s men outside Bilibid were the ones negotiating for their bosses. Kerwin even recalled a time the deal happened in the parking area of Metropolitan Hospital in Binondo, Manila.
“Ang mga tao ko at mga tao ni Peter Co ang nag-uusap kung saan ang pick-up ng shabu… Mula Manila, by land travel sila gamit ang private na sasakyan papuntang Matnog, Sorsogon papuntang Allen, Samar at sa Ormoc, Leyte ang drop off para deretso distribute,” he said.
He said they would hide the shabu packs inside spare tires, luggage, towels before transporting them inside their service vehicle, sometimes on the bus.
Kerwin identified his henchmen as Nelson “Jun” Pepito, village councilor in Albuera, Leyte, and Marcelo Adorco. CBB
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