Drug lord Kerwin Espinosa transferred to NBI

Kerwin Espinosa FILE PHOTO

Confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa was transferred from Camp Crame to the National Bureau of Investigation at 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

NBI spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin told reporters on Thursday that the transfer was by virtue of an order by Judge Carlos Arguelles of Branch 14 of the Baybay, Leyte Regional Trial Court, where Espinosa is facing charges of illegal possession of drugs and firearms.

“We submitted him to a medical physical examination when he arrived around midnight. He is in stable condition. He did not complain about anything,” Lavin said.

The NBI spokesperson said Espinosa is in a “secure facility” under “very tight security.”

Only his lawyer, Lavin said,  was allowed to visit him.

“The NBI is ready to address any threat on the life of not only Espinosa but also of the other prisoners. Especially this holiday season, we placed our agents under high alert,” he said.

In a television interview before leaving Camp Crame, Espinosa said he had no problems with the transfer for as long as he was “safe.”

“Because for as long as I am alive, I am willing to help Filipinos,” he said.

He said he hoped Aguirre would also give his children security, as he was up against “big people” who can “do whatever they want to my family.”

According to Lavin, Espinosa’s application to the Department of Justice’s Witness Protection Program is still “under process.”

“As of now, I haven’t received any approval under the WPP, if I have already been accepted,” Espinosa said.