Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa presents alleged big-time drug lord Kerwin Espinosa at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City who was brought back to the country on Nov. 18, 2016, a month after his arrest in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) last Oct. 17. (INQUIRER PHOTO)
Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa, tagged as the biggest drug lord in Eastern Visayas, apologized to President Rodrigo Duterte for engaging in the drug business, asking the President to give him another chance to start a new life.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa presented a handcuffed Espinosa, wearing a bulletproof vest and orange inmate garb, in a press conference at Camp Crame after personally escorting him from the airport early Friday.
Dela Rosa allowed Kerwin to answer questions from the media. In a low voice, Kerwin said: “Kay Presidente, humihingi ako ng tawad sa nagawa ko dati at sana bigyan niya pa ako ng isang pagkakataon upang magbagong buhay.”
(To the President, I am asking for forgiveness for what I had done and I hoped he would give me a chance to start a new life.)
Kerwin promised the President that he would identify the protectors of the drug trade he allegedly operated in the Visayas region, saying he owed it to his father to tell all.
“Itong sitwasyon ko ngayon na wala na ang Papa ko, maaasahan niya na lahat ng involved sa drug trade na nalalaman ko, lalabas sila lahat — ’yung mga pangalan nila,” Kerwin said.
Kerwin’s father Albuera, Leyte, Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. died in a police raid inside his cell in Baybay City sub-provincial jail last Nov. 5.
Police claim a shootout ensued after Espinosa and his fellow inmate Raul Yap fought back with the operatives.
But Dela Rosa assured that Kerwin will be unharmed under the police custody this time.
“Andito na si Kerwin, buhay na buhay ha. Hindi namamatay (Here is Kerwin, very much alive. He will not die),” Dela Rosa said as he laughed.
Later, Kerwin said he feels safe since the PNP’s Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (AIDG) facilitated his security from the time of his arrest in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), last Oct. 17.
“Ngayon wala na akong takot sa pulis. Nakita ko ’yung kanilang pagsafety nila sa akin mula sa pagkuha sa akin sa Abu Dhabi hanggang dito sa Crame.
Na-feel ko ’yung safety ko na safe na ako,” he said.
(Now, I am no longer scared of the police. I saw how they tried to keep me safe, starting from when they fetched me from Abu Dhabi until I arrived here at Crame. I feel very safe.)