Suspected drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa yesterday sought to clear his father, Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa, of any involvement in the illegal drug trade.
During his testimony, Kerwin also cleared personalities his deceased father allegedly included in his affidavit to be part of the illegal drug trade. Among those he declared innocent were former actor Richard Gomez, who is now mayor of Ormoc City; Leyte Rep. Vicente Veloso, Governor Leopoldo Petilla, and Vice Governor Carlo Loreto, and Baybay Vice Mayor Mike Cari.
In the first place, he said his father is not in a position to provide information about those involved in illegal drugs, saying he was the only one into the illicit trade.
“Una sa lahat, ang aking ama ay wala sa posisyon para makapagsabi kung sino ang mga na-ging involved sa drug trade ko at sa mga transaksyon ko at any kind of illegal transactions,” he said during the Senate probe.
The mayor was killed inside the Baybay sub-provincial jail on Nov. 5.
Kerwin also denied owning a “blue book” that purportedly contains the list of personalities receiving protection money. He also maintained that the signature on the affidavit of his father was also forged.
Asked why his father would be tagged in the issue, Espinosa pointed to Albuera Police Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido saying the police official has a grudge against him because they worked for a rival political families in Leyte.
“Hanggang ngayon nagtatanim siya ng galit sa akin at sa pamilya ko kaya ginagawa niya itong mga di niya dapat gawin dahil isa siyang pulis… inaapakan niya kami, kinokontrol niya kami,” he said. (Hannah Torregoza)