MANILA, Philippines – One of the main witnesses in the cases filed against alleged Eastern Visayas drug lord Kerwin Espinosa’s supposed “protectors” may have been killed, but that doesn’t mean that his testimony is now useless, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said on Tuesday, November 8.

“Murag kaya pa kay na-subscribe na ang affidavit. Mao’y sulti sa SolGen [Solicitor General Jose Calida]. Pwede daw (I think it’s still admissible because the affidavit has already been subscribed to. That’s what the SolGen said. It’s still useful),” Dela Rosa told Rappler in a phone interview.

Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr, the father of Kerwin, was going to be among the key personalities in cases filed against several personalities – including Senator Leila de Lima – who allegedly received money from Kerwin in exchange for “protecting” his supposed illegal drugs business. De Lima has denied the claim.

The mayor was killed on Saturday, November 5, when Criminal Investigation and Dectection Group (CIDG) personnel from Region 8 served a search warrant against him and another inmate, Raul Yap, inside the Leyte sub-provincial jail in Baybay City, Leyte.

CIDG operatives asked for the search warrant because Espinosa and Yap were allegedly selling drugs and possessed firearms inside prison. Based on a police report, firearms and substances believed to have been shabu were seized from their cells.

But inmates who were witness to the police operation inside the jail contest this claim. They have also said that Espinosa did not fight back, contrary to CIDG Region 8’s claims.

Mayor Espinosa was the first local chief executive to “surrender” to Dela Rosa, less than 24 hours after President Rodrigo Duterte called on him and his son to give up.

Days prior, Albuera police arrested several of Espinosa’s men and seized shabu supposedly from a tennis court near their house. Duterte told the Espinosas that should they resist their warrantless arrest, police had a standing “shoot on sight” order.

Dela Rosa would later say that Mayor Espinosa was part of Duterte’s “list” of politicians, police, and judges with supposed ties to the illegal drugs trade.

The older Espinosa had said that while he was privy to Kerwin’s illegal activities, he did not benefit from them. He also promised Dela Rosa that he would cooperate with authorities in catching his own son and filing charges against those who did benefit from the supposed drug lord.

2 affidavits

When he returned to Albuera, Espinosa did just that. Before he died, he executed two affidavits that named at least 50 people who were allegedly in Kerwin’s payroll. Espinosa’s brother, however, has contested those affidavits, asserting that the older Espinosa was merely made to sign ready-made documents.

“From the point of view sa prosecution, dili kaayo maapektuhan pero depende sa diskarte sa defense nila (From the point of view of the prosecution, the case won’t be affected but it really depends on how the defends handles the case),” added Dela Rosa.

Espinosa had already been arrested following the filing of charges for allegedly violating the country’s illegal drugs and firearms laws. Kerwin is currently detained in Abu Dhabi and is awaiting extradition to the Philippines. 

Police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the CIDG Region 8 operation.

Several officials, including former PNP chief Senator Panfilo Lacson have expressed doubt over the police’s claims, concluding that based on the circumstances surrounding the operation, it could have been a case of an extrajudicial killing.

Police have long had to fend off allegations of summary killings in the government’s ongoing war on drugs.

The Senate is set to open a probe into Espinosa’s death on Thursday, November 10. – Rappler.com