SENATOR Leila de Lima and alleged Eastern Visayas drug lord Kerwin Espinosa are both expected to attend Wednesday's hearing of the Senate committee on public order and illegal drugs that will tackle the killing of Kerwin’s father, Rolando Espinosa Sr.
De Lima said she will no longer be surprised if Espinosa and several personalities will again link her to the illegal drug trade.
“Talaga naman na expected na yan na ituturo na naman ako. Makikinig po ako sa kanya at titingnan ko po,” De Lima said when asked how she will handle the situation.
The public hearing was supposed to be held at Camp Crame but Senator Panfilo Lacson, citing security reasons, decided to have the hearing inside the Senate instead.
“That is the reason why the committee decided to move back to the Senate. And the space is also one consideration. To provide more space to resource persons invited to the hearing.” Lacson told reporters.
Lacson said it was the idea of the senators to hold the hearing in Camp Crame in consideration of the safety and security of Kerwin.
The senator also said that while he was not able to talk to Kerwin, he has obtained an electronic copy of Kerwin's “detailed” and “lengthy” affidavit via email.
Lacson said Espinosa is expected to narrate details of his affidavit during the hearing.
Earlier, whistleblower Sandra Cam said two incumbent senators and several members of the House of Representatives are in Kerwin’s list of recipients of his drug money several months before the May 2016 elections.
Espinosa is currently detained at the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (AIDG) headquarters. He was flown back to the country by the AIDG after he was arrested in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, last October 17 for violation of immigration laws. (Sunnex)