Witness vs. Kerwin Espinosa blames cops for inconsistencies in affidavits
A government witness against self-confessed drug distributor Kerwin Espinosa blamed police investigators for the inconsistencies in the affidavits he executed.
During his testimony, Marcelo Adorco was confronted by Espinosa’s lawyers on the truthfulness of all that he has stated in his affidavit.
Adorco was the lone witness that the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) presented when it the filed the complaint against Kerwin before the Department of Justice (DOJ).
However, the DOJ, in a resolution dated Dec. 20, 2017, dismissed the complaint against Kerwin, Cebu-based businessman Peter Lim, convicted drug lord Peter Co, and several others.
The resolution pointed out that Odorco’s several affidavits has instead created confusion on the alleged drug transactions instead of clarifying them.
READ: How the landmark drug case was ‘lost’
Former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II had ordered a reinvestigation and created another panel of investigators.
During Friday’s hearing before the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 26, Kerwin’s lawyer, Atty. Jesus Obejero Jr. asked Odorco if the four transactions in 2012 with Co was for 30 kilos each of shabu.
“Twenty (kilos) lang po [Only 20],” Odorco said.
Obejero asked why 30 kilos was indicated in his affidavit, to which Odorco said “sinabi ko po sa imbestigador 20 pero 30 ang nailagay.” [I told the investigator that it was 20 but instead put 30 kilos.]
Obejero also noted that in Odorco’s affidavit, he and Kerwin met Co at a hospital in Manila in 2014.
“2015 sir, mali yan. Mali ang imbestigador,” Odorco said.
[It was in 2015 sir, that (affidavit) is wrong. The investigator is wrong.]
Obejero asked how come Odorco mentioned in his affidavit that he and Kerwin only met Co in 2015 when in another affidavit, he mentioned that Co has been supplying shabu for Kerwin since 2012.
Odorco said he only saw Co for the first time in 2015.
The witness added added that Lim also supplied drugs 50 kilos or a total of 200 kilos of shabu to Kerwin in 2015 on four separate instances.
“When was the first transaction in 2015,” Obejero asked to which Odorco said he cannot remember the month.
“What about the second, third, fourth transactions, where did it took place,” Objero asked.
Odorco said all the three other transactions took place at a hypermarket in Makati.
But when a court staff read his affidavit, the transaction took place at a different grocery area in Makati.
“Are you changing your answer,” asked Obejero.
“Yes sir,” said Odorco.
On the meeting with Peter Lim and Kerwin in Thailand, Odorco said Lim was using an Alphard vehicle.
“How do you know the model of the car when you said you cannot read and write?” asked Obejero to which Odorco said how know cars.
He was shown a photo of a vehicle which he identified as a Land Cruiser. Obejero said it was actually a Toyota Sequoia.
The affidavit, however mentioned a different car model that was used by Lim in Thailand.
“Alphard po talaga. Mali imbestigador,” Odorco said. /vvp
