SUSPECTED Eastern Visayas drug lord Kerwin Espinosa said during the Senate hearing on Wednesday, November 23, that his slain father, Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., was not involved in his illegal drug activities.
The younger Espinosa testified during the resumption of the Senate probe into the killing of Espinosa Sr. last November 5.
Kerwin said his father did not know who were the people involved in the illegal drug trade.
"Ang aking ama ay wala sa posisyon niya para makapagsabi kung sino ang mga naging-involved sa drug trade ko at sa mga transaksyon ko sa shabu or any kind of illegal transactions (My father was not in the position to tell who were involved and whom I made transactions with in my illegal drug trade)," Kerwin said.
Kerwin, however, admitted his illegal activities, saying his father has no control over him.
"Ang papa ko ay walang kinalaman, inosente siya. Ako ang may alam sa lahat dahil dito sa sinalaysay ko. Kung nakita ninyo, inaamin ko lahat ang mga maling gawain ko sa ilegal na droga (My papa was innocent. It is me who knows everything. In my affidavit, I admitted everything about my illegal activities)," Kerwin said.
"My dad knew about my illegal activities, but he had no control over me since I'm already old enough," he added.
Espinosa Sr. was killed inside his detention cell in Baybay City, Leyte, last November 5 by members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, just one month after he was arrested for illegal possession of firearms.
Last August 2, Espinosa Sr. surrendered to police forces within the 24-hour window provided to him and his son by President Rodrigo Duterte.
When he was presented to the media at Camp Crame, the mayor maintained that he is not involved in any illegal drugs activities and said he is willing to undergo drug test.
However, according to Philippine National Police Director Ronald Dela Rosa, Espinosa Sr. admitted to him that his son, Kerwin, was involved in illegal drug activities. (Sunnex)