Witness vs Kerwin recants
A witness in the drug case against self-confessed drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa recanted his testimony during a hearing at the Manila Regional Trial Court yesterday morning.
Jose Antipuesto, a welder, told Branch 26 Judge Silvino Pampilo Jr. that police coerced him to pin down Espinosa for the illegal drug trade in the Eastern Visayas.
Antipuesto, who was arrested for drug pushing in August 2016, said he signed the affidavit prepared by the police in exchange for their promise that he would not be charged. He was accused of being Espinosa’s drug runner.
The prosecution was surprised by the witness’ sudden turnaround and asked the judge to scrap his testimony. Silvino ruled that it would remain as part of the records of the proceedings.
Antipuesto said police brought him to Tacloban, Leyte and asked him to sign the affidavit without the presence of his lawyer.
He added that he did not understand what was written in the three-page affidavit, adding that Chief Inspector Jovie Espinido, then the Albuera police chief, threatened to pin him down if he wouldn’t sign.
Antipuesto said he was also afraid for his life “because there have been a lot of killings in his province.”
Espinosa said he was also surprised by Antipuesto’s recantation and he believes that it will have a lot of bearing on his case.
Espinosa is a son of former Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa Jr., who was killed in his detention cell after allegedly trying to fight off policemen during a raid.
Antipuesto was reported to be a personal driver and childhood friend of the younger Espinosa, who is on trial for illegal drug trading and illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
The Supreme Court ordered that the trial be transferred to Metro Manila from Baybay, Leyte based on the requests made by the prosecution and defense panels.
Antipuesto earlier said he knew about the Espinosas’ illegal drug operations and that three of the six armed men killed in the shootout at the elder Espinosa’s house in August 2016 were hired guns from Mindanao.
He said these men were deployed when someone needed to be killed.