Kerwin Espinosa pleads not guilty

INQUIRER.net / Tetch Torres-Tupas

Alleged Visayas drug lord Kerwin Espinosa pleaded not guilty to charges of illegal drug trading during his initial arraignment before a Manila City court on Friday.

Wearing a bulletproof vest and heavily guarded by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation, Espinosa maintained his innocence before Judge Silvino Pampilo of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 26 and even accused police of planting evidence against him.

The charges stemmed from the drug raid on Espinosa’s residence in Albuera, Leyte, in July last year, where almost 220 grams of “shabu” (crystal meth) were seized and five of his men were arrested.

But Espinosa claimed he was out of the country when the raid took place.

Espinosa fled the country after he and his father, slain Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., were publicly accused by President Duterte of involvement in illegal drugs. He was later arrested in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.