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| Superintendent Marvin Marcos, the sacked CIDG-Region 8 director who led the operation that led to the killing of Albuera mayor Rolando Espinosa, was also teary-eyed at the Senate hearing yesterday. |
MANILA, Philippines – The police officer who led the team that killed Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. in a sub-provincial jail cell denied yesterday that he received drug payola from the slain local official.
Supt. Marvin Marcos, former chief of the regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Eastern Visayas, denied that he got P3 million in drug money to help fund his estranged wife’s vice mayoralty bid in Pastrana, Leyte in the last elections.
Alleged drug lord Rolando “Kerwin” Espinosa Jr. testified before the Senate that he gave P3 million to Marcos in two tranches just a few days before the elections. Marcos’ wife lost.
The Senate committee, chaired by Sen. Panfilo Lacson, is conducting an investigation into the killing of Kerwin’s father last Nov. 5 by CIDG policemen serving a search warrant.
Marcos led the raiding team that served the warrant that led to a supposed shootout, leaving Espinosa and another inmate dead.
Marcos and his men were accused of silencing Espinosa to prevent him from revealing his protectors in the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Marcos denied the allegations of asking campaign money from Kerwin.
He said he has been separated from his wife Maritess since 2013 and their parting was not amicable. He said he cancelled his wife’s access to his ATM card and her extension credit card.
“How could I support her? We’re long separated,” an emotional Marcos said. “She’s angry with me, I’m angry with her. She lost the elections when she ran as an independent. She didn’t have money.”
“You must tell the truth and be held accountable for the many people you killed,” Marcos told Kerwin in Filipino.
Maritess, on the other hand, also denied receiving any campaign funds.
Maritess, who ran but lost in the vice mayoralty race, said the claims made against her former husband were politically motivated, designed to discredit their family.
“If I did receive such big amount of P3 million from Supt. Marcos maybe I (should have) won, and how come that I received that amount since we have been separated three years before the elections, maybe they are doing this just to destroy Marvin’s credibility,” she said.
“Regardless of our situation now, I still believe how Supt. Marcos maintains the integrity of his profession,” she added.
Maritess said she maintains a simple lifestyle and stressed all the money she had did not come from any illegal activity.
She said she had only P100,000 as campaign expenses.
“In fact, some of my supporters were just being fed and no money was involved, all were volunteers. As you can see, I lost the elections since I have no money to sustain a winning campaign,” Maritess said.
She called on the Senate to be fair in its investigation involving her former husband.
In yesterday’s hearing at the Senate, Kerwin alleged that he and his late father personally handed a total of P2.5 million to Marcos before the May 9 elections.
Kerwin added his father even promised P500,000 as bonus for winning the elections.
Dolina claimed Kerwin could have been harboring ill will against him, saying he made it difficult for the alleged drug lord to operate in the region.
“Galit si Kerwin sa akin (Kerwin is angry with me),” he said.
Dolina said he never met Espinosa personally so there was no basis in the allegation that he received P3 million as protection money.
Kerwin said a certain Victor Espina, who he linked to Dolina, demanded protection money from him. He said he gave money through a check deposited by a woman he did not identify.
Dolina said he was forced to speak after learning that his name was mentioned by Kerwin during yesterday’s hearing at the Senate. – Paolo Romero, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Miriam Desacada
Supt. Marvin Marcos, former chief of the regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Eastern Visayas, denied that he got P3 million in drug money to help fund his estranged wife’s vice mayoralty bid in Pastrana, Leyte in the last elections.
Alleged drug lord Rolando “Kerwin” Espinosa Jr. testified before the Senate that he gave P3 million to Marcos in two tranches just a few days before the elections. Marcos’ wife lost.
The Senate committee, chaired by Sen. Panfilo Lacson, is conducting an investigation into the killing of Kerwin’s father last Nov. 5 by CIDG policemen serving a search warrant.
Marcos led the raiding team that served the warrant that led to a supposed shootout, leaving Espinosa and another inmate dead.
Marcos and his men were accused of silencing Espinosa to prevent him from revealing his protectors in the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Marcos denied the allegations of asking campaign money from Kerwin.
He said he has been separated from his wife Maritess since 2013 and their parting was not amicable. He said he cancelled his wife’s access to his ATM card and her extension credit card.
“How could I support her? We’re long separated,” an emotional Marcos said. “She’s angry with me, I’m angry with her. She lost the elections when she ran as an independent. She didn’t have money.”
“You must tell the truth and be held accountable for the many people you killed,” Marcos told Kerwin in Filipino.
Maritess, on the other hand, also denied receiving any campaign funds.
Maritess, who ran but lost in the vice mayoralty race, said the claims made against her former husband were politically motivated, designed to discredit their family.
“If I did receive such big amount of P3 million from Supt. Marcos maybe I (should have) won, and how come that I received that amount since we have been separated three years before the elections, maybe they are doing this just to destroy Marvin’s credibility,” she said.
“Regardless of our situation now, I still believe how Supt. Marcos maintains the integrity of his profession,” she added.
Maritess said she maintains a simple lifestyle and stressed all the money she had did not come from any illegal activity.
She said she had only P100,000 as campaign expenses.
“In fact, some of my supporters were just being fed and no money was involved, all were volunteers. As you can see, I lost the elections since I have no money to sustain a winning campaign,” Maritess said.
She called on the Senate to be fair in its investigation involving her former husband.
In yesterday’s hearing at the Senate, Kerwin alleged that he and his late father personally handed a total of P2.5 million to Marcos before the May 9 elections.
Kerwin added his father even promised P500,000 as bonus for winning the elections.
‘Angry with me’
Former regional director of Eastern Visayas, Chief Supt. Asher Dolina, also denied receiving any money from Kerwin.Dolina claimed Kerwin could have been harboring ill will against him, saying he made it difficult for the alleged drug lord to operate in the region.
“Galit si Kerwin sa akin (Kerwin is angry with me),” he said.
Dolina said he never met Espinosa personally so there was no basis in the allegation that he received P3 million as protection money.
Kerwin said a certain Victor Espina, who he linked to Dolina, demanded protection money from him. He said he gave money through a check deposited by a woman he did not identify.
Dolina said he was forced to speak after learning that his name was mentioned by Kerwin during yesterday’s hearing at the Senate. – Paolo Romero, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Miriam Desacada
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