Espinosa ‘drug source’ surrenders to Dela Rosa

Suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa testifies before the Senate. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON

Lovely Adam Impal, tagged as the “drug queen of the south” and the alleged biggest shabu source of Kerwin Espinosa’s, surrendered to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa Monday morning.

“Just this morning, (Lovely Adam Impal) surrendered to me. She was escorted by the Regional Director of (Police Regional Office of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao) Chief Supt. (Agripino) Javier,” Dela Rosa said.

READ: Kerwin names drug sources in Senate hearing

Dela Rosa held a press conference at Camp Crame before attending the Senate inquiry on the death of Kerwin’s father, former Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., during a police raid inside his cell at the Baybay City Sub-provincial Jail last Nov. 5.

READ: Kerwin Espinosa, Ronnie Dayan face Senate probe

Impal is currently undergoing investigation by the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group, Dela Rosa said.

“‘Yung kanyang pag-surrender is an offshoot of Kerwin’s statements linking her to the drug trade,” he said.

The national police chief, however, clarified that Impal remains free while a warrant of arrest has not been issued against her.

But he said Impal had an option to seek police custody if she’s fearing for her life.

“It is presumed na pinaglalaglag na niya mga pangalan ng ibang sindikato kaya baka huntingin na rin siya, kung ayaw niyang pa-custody sa amin, she’s free as a bird,” he said.

Before the Nov. 23 Senate hearing, Kerwin, tagged as the biggest drug lord in Eastern Visayas, said his top sources of drugs were Impal and fellow drug lord in Central Visayas Jeffrey “Jaguar” Diaz.

Kerwin claimed that he had been transacting with them since 2005 when he was still an underling of Diaz. Diaz was killed in a shootout with policemen in Las Piñas City, on June 17.

Kerwin said it was Diaz who introduced him to Impal when they met inside the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center (BBRC) in Lahug, Cebu City.

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.” CBB/rga