Kerwin Espinosa and his late father Rolando Espinosa Sr. of Albuera Leyte. FILE PHOTOS
MANILA, Philippines — Self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa is willing to withdraw his bid for Albuera, Leyte’s mayoral post, just to focus on finding justice for his father, slain former mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.
Kerwin said this when Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez asked during the House of Representatives quad committee hearing on Friday regarding his priority: seeking justice for his father or running for mayor.
Fernandez said this after Kerwin filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) last October 3, aspiring for the seat once occupied by his father.
READ: Self-confessed drug lord launches mayoral bid in Leyte
“We are not telling you Kerwin, that the totality of your affidavit is wrong, right now, in here. But we wanted to find out the veracity of all those statements that you have mentioned because the credibility of this quad comm is at stake here […] considering also that you have filed your certificate of candidacy to run for the mayor of Albuera,” Fernandez said.
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“Opo (Yes) Mr. Chair,” Kerwin replied.
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“And at the same time, the reason why you appeared in this hearing was to seek justice?” Fernandez asked. “What is your priority? Running as a mayor or seeking the truth for your father?”
“Hustisya po para sa Papa ko, kaya kong talikuran ‘yang pulitika (Justice for my father takes priority, I can turn back on politics just for this),” Kerwin answered.
Fernandez clarified if turning back on politics means withdrawing his COC, which Kerwin confirmed.
“So, in other words, in seeking the truth, and to prioritize in finding out the truth about the death of your father, you’re willing not to run anymore. So are you willing to withdraw your [COC]? Sa paglaban mo ng mayor (For your mayoral bid)?” Fernandez asked.
“Yes po,” Kerwin replied. “I am willing to withdraw.”
Fernandez asked for Kerwin’s understanding regarding these questions, noting that these things have to be asked because some might see the resource person’s testimonies as politicking.
“You cannot blame us Kerwin if we would think that there is politics involved here. And that’s the reason why I am very adamant at knowing your intention in going in here. But most likely if you’re going to tell us that you’re going to withdraw in your fight for the mayoral post, somehow I might believe you,” Fernandez said.
Zambales 1st District Rep. Jefferson Khonghun, who was also present during the hearing, was first to ask about Kerwin’s goal of testifying before the quad committee.
“Why did you decided to come out and tell the truth? Especially here in quad comm. It’s election time and people might think you are doing this for election campaign or media mileage?,” Khonghun said in Filipino.
“I’m doing this because I saw a lot of people coming out, most of them victims of EJK and they are willing to tell the truth about the cases of EJK. That made me to appear here in quad comm, no politics involve,” Kerwin replied in straight Filipino.
Earlier, Kerwin claimed that former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and now Senator Ronald dela Rosa ordered him to implicate former senator Leila de Lima as involved in the drug trade, warning that he and members of his family will suffer the same fate as his father.
Kerwin’s father, Espinosa Sr. was killed while in detention.
Kerwin claimed that dela Rosa said this after fetching him from the airport in November 2016 — days after Espinosa Sr. was killed.
READ: Dela Rosa ordered me to implicate de Lima in drug trade – Kerwin Espinosa
Kerwin’s father, Espinosa Sr., was detained in Baybay, Leyte due to illegal possession of drugs and firearms charges. He asked that he should not be taken to the Leyte sub-provincial jail in Baybay, as he feared for his life there.
READ: WHAT WENT BEFORE: Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. slay
Then on November 5, 2016, under the command of Supt. Marvin Marcos, a Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) team from Eastern Visayas conducted a predawn operation to serve a search warrant on Espinosa Sr., who was suspected of keeping a gun and crystal meth or “shabu” inside his cell.
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According to the police officers, Espinosa Sr. and another inmate identified as Raul Yap fought against the CIDG team, and were eventually killed in the raid.
