FORMER Eastern Visayas police director Asher Dolina denied on Monday the claims of Eastern Visayas drug lord Kerwin Espinosa that he was giving him payola for the protection of the latter’s illegal drug operations.
“Hindi ako tumatanggap ng payola o protection money in any form, cash or check, na galing sa drug lord na ito na si Kerwin Espinosa,” Dolina, who was Eastern Visayas police regional director from December 23, 2014 to November 5, 2015, said during a Senate hearing.
“Wala akong kasalanan sa bayan bilang protektor ng illegal drug trade. Hindi ako protektor ng illegal drug trade ng drug lord na si Kerwin Espinosa at ng kanyang mga kasamahan sa sindikato…How ironic that when the long arm of the law finally caught up with Kerwin sa Abu Dhabi, ito siya ngayon pinoprotektahan ng PNP at gusto niyang maniwala tayo sa kanyang half-truths at half-lies,” he added.
Espinosa said Dolina was receiving P300,000 monthly in 2015 being coursed through their alleged middleman, Victor Espina, who is the brother-in-law of former Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge Leonardo Espina.
Dolina also downplayed the accusation of Superintendent Noel Matira, who earlier said that he prevented them from arresting Espinosa under his watch.
“Hindi ko masukat maisip kung ano ang sinasasbi niya na noong February 2015 protektor ako niya dahil binigyan niya ako ng P3 million na payola para proteksyonan ang kanyang iligal na gawain samantalang nahuli namin siya nung March 2015,” he said.
“Sigurado ako sa aking sarili na wala akong kasalanan sa mata ng Diyos at ng ating bayan bilang protektor,” Dolina added.
Dolina was dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman due to the anomalous purchase of motorbancas during his time as the chairman of the bids and awards committee of the PNP maritime group. He was eventually cleared by the Court of Appeals but is yet to be reinstated to the police service. (Sunnex)