PNP vows to keep Kerwin Espinosa alive

Suspected drug lord Rolando “Kerwin” Espinosa Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia—The Philippine National Police chief on Thursday vowed to keep Kerwin Espinosa alive, after the alleged drug lord’s father was killed by policemen in a jailhouse raid in Leyte province on Nov. 5.

Speaking to reporters here before flying home after accompanying President Duterte on a visit to Malaysia, PNP Director General Ronald dela Rosa acknowledged his failure to protect Espinosa’s father, Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.

“I’ll make it up [to] Kerwin. Tell the family that what I failed to do in the case of the father, I will redeem [in the case of the son],” Dela Rosa said.

Police custody

He said the PNP would ask the court that issued the warrant for Kerwin’s arrest to put the alleged drug lord under police custody at PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

“I will make sure that the security for him will be appropriate when he returns, although it doesn’t negate the fact that he is a drug lord. He’s a drug lord, isn’t he?” Dela Rosa said.

He said Kerwin had “the right to remain alive” so he could face the charges that had been filed against him.

In jail in Abu Dhabi

Kerwin Espinosa fled the Philippines in August after his father disclosed that he operated an extensive illegal drug business in Eastern Visayas.

Kerwin was later arrested in Abu Dhabi.

President Duterte publicly linked Mayor Espinosa to the illegal drug trade in August.

The mayor surrendered to the PNP but was released after denying the allegations.

He was arrested later after being indicted on weapons and drug charges.

The mayor submitted a statement linking politicians and policemen, including narcotics officials, to his illegal business.

Before dawn on Nov. 5, policemen raided his cell at the subprovincial jail in Baybay City allegedly to search his cell for weapons and drugs.

The policemen said Espinosa and another inmate, Raul Yap, opened fire on them, forcing them to shoot back, killing the two men.

Dela Rosa said Espinosa’s family had nothing to fear.

Ease family’s fears

“Why would they be targeted when they had done nothing wrong?” he said.

To ease their fears, he said he would provide them security, but in a manner that would not be seen as VIP treatment.

He said he had no information about any threats to members of the Espinosa family.