MANILA, Philippines – Upon his return to the country, alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa met with Senator Manny Pacquiao and supposedly divulged “surprising” details about more politicians and government officials linked to illegal drugs.

Pacquiao, a partymate of President Rodrigo Duterte, met Espinosa at the Philippine National Police headquarters at Camp Crame early Friday, November 18.  The meeting, which lasted for almost an hour, was fruitful, Pacquiao said.

“Nagpapasalamat ako na sa akin siya nagtiwala, siniwalat nalalaman niya, ayon sa nalalaman niya. Doon sa mga narinig ko hindi ko na babanggitin mga pangalan pero na-surprise ako na ‘yun talagang nabanggit niyang pangalan, na-confirm ang detalye nung ginawa nila, activities nila, paano niya binigyan,” Pacquiao said.

(I am thankful that he trusted me, he divulged what he knows to me. With what I heard, I will not mention names but I was surprised with the names he mentioned, he confirmed the details of what they did, their activities, how he gave them money.)

“Hindi tayo magpangalan muna lahat pero na-surprise ako sa lahat ng pinangalanan – may mga politicians, government officials, mga ganoon,” he added. (I won’t give names first but I was surprised by all those named – there are politicians, government officials, and the like.)

The senator said Espinosa told him he is willing to stand by his claims. Pacquiao said there are additional names to what was earlier publicized but refused to give details, saying the media should just wait for the affidavit.

“Mga isang oras ko rin siyang tinanong. Nasagot naman katanungan natin. Handa siya panindigan ‘yung mga testimony kasi ‘di niya malimutan at ginagawa nila… ‘Yung mga pangalan na lumabas meron pa nadagdag, so ‘di ko na banggitin, saka na lang ‘pag nabigay ang affidavit sa media,” Pacquiao said.

(I asked him for about an hour and he answered all my questions. He is ready to stand by his testimony because he could not forget what they were doing…There are additional names to those that had already been divulged so I won’t mention them first. Later, when the affidavit is given to the media.)

Not a drug lord

Espinosa was brought home from Abu Dhabi on Friday, 5 months after he fled the Philippines and hid in 4 other cities abroad.

Espinosa is accused of being the top drug personality in Eastern Visayas. He and his father, the late Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr, were named by no less than the President, following a police operation that nabbed P11 million worth of shabu from their home.

Mayor Espinosa was killed on November 5 inside his prison cell, an incident that is now the subject of an ongoing Senate probe.

The younger Espinosa said his father’s killing was a “rubout,” citing the testimonies of his father’s fellow inmates.

Upon his arrival, Espinosa said he is ready to say what he knows about the illegal drug trade in his area but insisted he’s not a drug lord.

“Alam ko na-involve sa ganyan pero hindi ako drug lord ng Eastern Visayas (I know I’ve been involved in illegal drugs but I am not the drug lord of Eastern Visayas),” he said.

The PNP now wants to turn the former fugitive into a state witness because he is the “missing piece in the puzzle.”

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II earlier said he is willing to admit Espinosa into the Witness Protection Program should he agree to cooperate in the investigation. – Rappler.com