Filipino drug lord is sent home
Kerwin Espinosa, the alleged Filipino drug trafficker captured in Abu Dhabi last month, was handed over to Philippine police and began his journey home to face the country’s justice system.
dubai — Kerwin Espinosa, the alleged big-time Filipino drug lord nabbed in Abu Dhabi last month, was handed over to the Philippine police and he travelled on Thursday afternoon to Manila.
This was confirmed to Khaleej Times by Sandra Cam, president of Whistleblowers Association of the Philippines, who accompanied Kerwin back home.
Aside from Cam, Kerwin was escorted by three senior Philippine police officers led by Col Albert Ferro, acting director of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Illegal Drugs Group, and a couple of Manila-based reporters.
Cam visited Kerwin, tagged as number two on the most wanted list by the PNP in connection with illegal drugs trade, at Al Wathba Jail in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. She did not give any flight details but said they will arrive early Friday morning in Manila.
“Security will be very tight,” Cam said. “As soon Kerwin lands in Manila, he will be brought directly to the police headquarters in Camp Crame and I promised him that I will be with him all through the journey.”
PNP spokesperson Col Dionardo Carlos said Kerwin will pass through secured routes from the Manila airport to Camp Crame. “Upon arrival of the convoy at Camp Crame, there will be two possible scenarios: Scenario one, he will be immediately presented to the media and then he will undergo booking procedure and medical check-up. Second scenario, he will undergo booking procedures and then he will be presented to the media,” Carlos said.
“(Philippine) President (Rodrigo) Duterte ordered us to protect him. He needs Kerwin alive,” underlined Cam, who claims to have facilitated the arrest of Kerwin following an anonymous tip off from a UAE resident.
Fearing for his life after what hap
He (Kerwin) is willing to cooperate. He has already given me names which I cannot divulge, but there are police generals and a key politician. That’s why he is so afraid for his life and his family’s.” Sandra Cam, president, Whistleblowers Association of the Philippines 150,000 Dirhams or 2 million peso was the reward announced for the arrest of Kerwin
pened to his father, Albuera town mayor Rolando Espinosa, who was killed in an alleged shootout inside a Philippine provincial jail, Kerwin asked last week to be placed under the Philippine government’s witness protection programme (WPP) to testify against his government and police protectors.
Cam said: “He (Kerwin) is willing to cooperate. He has already given me names which I cannot divulge, but there are police generals and a key politician. That’s why he is so afraid of his life and of his family.”
When asked whether or not the ‘key politician’ is incumbent senator Leila de Lima, a staunch Duterte critic, Cam did not confirm, although De Lima earlier told Philippine media that the government is using Kerwin to implicate her in the multi-billion peso illegal drugs trade.
“Maybe she’s just guilty,” Cam told Khaleej Times. “You know, she’s a big liar. Remember back in 2012, I already said that she’s having a relationship with her driver/bodyguard who also serves as her bagman.
“She (de Lima) said I’m a liar but recently she admitted that she indeed had a relationship with her driver. Deep in her heart she knows she accepted drug money from Kerwin and other drug lords. Wait until Kerwin arrives in Manila. He is willing to tell all,” Cam stressed.
When asked if she will accept the two million peso (Dh150,000) reward for the arrest of Kerwin, Cam said she does not need it.
“Even my employees who tipped off the police will not get the bounty. We’re helping the government and this is for the country. It’s up to the PNP to whom they will give it. But as for me, I will not get even a single dirham,” Cam said.
“It’s not easy to do this as a civilian and a woman at that, to be with a fugitive, but because I made my peace yesterday with Kerwin, I have to ensure that he will safely arrive in the Philippines,” added Cam, who runs a trading and cleaning company in Abu Dhabi.
Cam said after escorting Kerwin back home, she will return to Abu Dhabi to fetch Kerwin’s wife and three young children. “Then, Kerwin will decide whether he wants his family to stay in the Philippines or abroad.”
She added: “Bringing Kerwin back home is a success for all of us, especially for the government to stop all this drug problem in the country. Kerwin will help pinpoint who are culpable and I want them to be put in front of a firing squad.”
angel@khaleejtimes.com