SENIOR Superintendent Rey Lyndon Lawas, Police Regional Office-Central Visayas deputy director for operations, denied he introduced retired police general now Daanbantayan Mayor Vicente Loot to suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa.
This information reportedly came from the affidavit of Kerwin's father, Albuera town mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., who was killed inside his cell in a Baybay City jail last November 5.
"I would like to say this, wala ko kaila nianang Espinosa or any of the Espinosas. Since birth, taga Cebu man gyod, wa gyod ko kahibalag niana (I personally do not know Kerwin Espinosa or any of the Espinosas. Since birth, I do not know them)," said Lawas.
Lawas said there are other police officials who are trying to taint him.
He said he is willing to face investigation.
In the affidavit of the slain Espinosa, Loot was among the government officials who allegedly protected Kerwin, who was nabbed in Abu Dhabi last month.
In July, Loot and retired police general Marcelo Garbo Jr. were named by President Rodrigo Duterte as "drug protectors".
Other alleged drug protectors named publicly by Duterte were former National Capital Region Police Office head Chief Superintendent Joel Pagdilao, former Quezon City Police District director Chief Superintendent Edgardo Tinio, and former police director of Davao Region General Bernardo Diaz. (KAL/DDA/Sunnex/SunStar Cebu)