DOJ to NBI: Probe Kerwin Espinosa’s drug deals

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra yesterday ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to look into allegations that confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa continues with his illegal drug trade while in NBI custody.

Guevarra directed NBI officer-incharge Eric Distor to probe the allegations made by Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido.

“I have ordered Distor to give priority to this report,” Guevarra told reporters.

He declined to comment if the accusation of Espenido would affect Espinosa’s standing at the Department of Justice’s Witness Protection Program.

Espenido recently tagged Espinosa behind the illegal drug operations in Taguig, Pasay, Bulacan, Cavite and Pampanga.

Espinosa is being held at the NBI headquarters in Manila on drug trafficking charges.

Espenido said Espinosa was allegedly behind the P5.6 billion worth of shabu seized by anti-narcotics agents in Marilao, Bulacan on June 10.

During the operation, police arrested a Chinese man and two Filipina cohorts who allegedly worked for Espinosa. Espenido said police confiscated P336.8 million worth of shabu during drug stings in Parañaque and Taguig, which resulted in the deaths of suspects Danny Alpiga and Ryan Labandria.

Espenido alleged that Alpiga and Labandria were drug couriers of Espinosa.

Espinosa, son of slain Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., returned to the country on Nov. 18, 2016 following his arrest in Abu Dhabi.

President Duterte has included the elder Espinosa in his narco list.