Who hid Kerwin? Kerwin stayed in flat near embassy — Phl envoy

MANILA — Did suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa receive protection while hiding in Abu Dhabi?

Kerwin, dubbed “Boss K” in the illegal drug trade, was arrested in Abu Dhabi Monday after months in hiding. President Rodrigo Duterte accused him of running a narcotics syndicate in the Visayas, and then issued a shoot-to-kill order against the suspected drug lord after the latter ignored calls to surrender.

Ambassador Constancio Vingno Jr. , Philippine ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, said Espinosa was staying at an apartment near the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi before his arrest, ABS-CBN News reported yesterday.

The alleged drug boss could not have rented the flat under his own name since he is only a tourist, he said.

“He was staying in a flat, mga [about] 20 to 30 minutes away from the Embassy. He was renting a flat there. I don’t know if he’s the person renting kasi ‘di naman posible iyun kasi hindi siya resident dito, visitor lang siya, so somebody might have rented that or ipinahiram sa kanya,” Vingno explained.

Vingno said the UAE Ministry of Interior Criminal Investigation Department is now investigating Espinosa’s possible coddlers. “That’s one of the angles being investigated by the Ministry of Interior—if there are other people involved na nag-assist sa kanya dito during the length of his stay,” he said.

He said Espinosa will remain in the custody of UAE authorities while undergoing investigation, which may take a week. Embassy officials, he added, have yet to secure permission from the court to talk to Espinosa.

“This morning, we’ll try to follow it up kung magkaroon kami ng access kay Kerwin.” Vingno said but added that he has no information yet on when Espinosa may be repatriated to Manila.

President Duterte in August issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the surrender of Espinosa and his father, Albuera Mayor Roland Espinosa of Leyte province, after tagging them as drug coddlers.

The older Espinosa immediately surrendered to Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, and confirmed that his son, also known as “Boss K” in the underground trade, is involved in illegal drugs.

The younger Espinosa ignored the surrender calls until he was nabbed by the Abu Dhabi police and PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group operatives on Monday.

Vingno confirmed yesterday that Espinosa first traveled to Palawan then Hong Kong, then proceeded to Dubai and later to Abu Dhabi. He said the fugitive traveled to Abu Dhabi using his real identity.

The Leyte police has filed criminal complaints against the Espinosas and seven others, including three media men and a Cebu town mayor allegedly involved in Kerwin’s drug ring.