UNKNOWN to many, suspected drug lord Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa was born and raised in Cebu City.
A two-story wooden house, which was his family’s home for about two decades before they moved to Albuera in southern Leyte, still stands in Sitio Cahipa, Barangay Hipodromo, Cebu City.
His 60-year-old aunt strictly prohibited members of the media from entering their ancestral home .
Kerwin’s aunt, who granted an interview on the condition that she would not be named in the reports, said they feared for their lives, saying law enforcers may also want to kill them.
Last Monday, two women whom they did not know were allegedly looking for them.
“They looked suspicious. But if they went inside our house, I will really kill them. They should not dare come in. I hope you understand that we’re just being careful because we don’t know what will happen,” she told reporters in Cebuano.
The woman admitted that Kerwin used to take shabu and was even arrested for possession of illegal drugs years ago.
“Of course, he was still young at that time. He’s just a victim of circumstances. But to tell you honestly, he’s a good person,” she said.
Kerwin’s relatives in Cebu City, she said, haven’t seen Kerwin in a long time.
“We really don’t know where Kerwin is now. We don’t know his whereabouts, and we’re definitely not hiding him. I’m sure he heard the news, and it’s up to him to surrender or not,” she said.
The aunt said she’s just anxious about what might happen to Kerwin and their family considering the government’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs.
“I hope God will protect our family. You know that abuse of authority and power has reigned,” she said.
Kerwin and his father, Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., have been tagged as illegal drug manufacturers and traffickers by the Philippine National Police.
At least six hired men of the mayor were killed during a police operation against illegal drugs at their family compound in Barangay Binulho, early Wednesday.
Mayor Espinosa, who earlier surrendered to authorities, called on his son to likewise surrender to avoid getting killed by law enforcers.