 |
| Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and Sen. Francis Escudero said Espinosa does not deserve to become a state witness or be granted immunity from charges as he appears to be one of the top drug lords in the country. They said that under the law, those to be granted immunity and placed under the witness protection program are those least guilty of the crime they are going to testify on. “If he (Espinosa) is the mastermind (of a drug syndicate), then he’s the most guilty. It can’t be that he will testify on those below him and those who helped him,” Pimentel told dwIZ. Boy Santos | with Paolo Romero and Jaime Laude via Philstar |
MANILA, Philippines - Senators yesterday opposed suggestions to make alleged drug lord Rolando “Kerwin” Espinosa a state witness or grant him immunity from prosecution.
Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and Sen. Francis Escudero said Espinosa does not deserve to become a state witness or be granted immunity from charges as he appears to be one of the top drug lords in the country.
They said that under the law, those to be granted immunity and placed under the witness protection program are those least guilty of the crime they are going to testify on.
“If he (Espinosa) is the mastermind (of a drug syndicate), then he’s the most guilty. It can’t be that he will testify on those below him and those who helped him,” Pimentel told dwIZ.
He said the Department of Justice (DOJ), which will process Espinosa, should be careful in evaluating him and building cases against those he would tag.
“Who is Kerwin Espinosa in their (DOJ) theory? Is he a big shot in Eastern Visayas? He may sing but if he acquits himself as the drug lord in the process, he must still be put to jail,” Pimentel said.
Escudero stressed all indications point to Espinosa as a major drug supplier in the country.
The matter of Espinosa being considered as a state witness and granted immunity came up as he promised to name his protectors that Sen. Leila De Lima had lamented will likely again include her.
Espinosa’s slain father and namesake, Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., reportedly executed an affidavit tagging De Lima and other individuals as his protectors.
The elder Espinosa was killed two weeks ago in his jail cell in Leyte by policemen from the regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) who were serving a search warrant.
The senators also were cool to suggestions to continue the hearings on Espinosa’s death in executive session as Kerwin is reportedly set to testify and name names.
The inquiry is being conducted by the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs chaired Sen. Panfilo Lacson.
Escudero and Pimentel said they believe there is nothing in Kerwin’s anticipated testimony that will impinge on the country’s national security.
De Lima, for her part, said she was still deciding whether to attend the inquiry, or just sit in as observer.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said Espinosa is a vital witness in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.
Espinosa was fetched by a police team from the United Arab Emirates on Friday and placed in isolation at the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame.
Kerwin agreed to turn state witness after learning that his father was killed by policemen while in detention.
Dela Rosa said they are willing to present Kerwin before the Senate inquiry.
“If ordered, we will have to present him,” he said.
Lacson had sent Sen. Manny Pacquiao to talk with Kerwin at the PNP headquarters for “advancers.”
They said that under the law, those to be granted immunity and placed under the witness protection program are those least guilty of the crime they are going to testify on.
He said the Department of Justice (DOJ), which will process Espinosa, should be careful in evaluating him and building cases against those he would tag.
“Who is Kerwin Espinosa in their (DOJ) theory? Is he a big shot in Eastern Visayas? He may sing but if he acquits himself as the drug lord in the process, he must still be put to jail,” Pimentel said.
The matter of Espinosa being considered as a state witness and granted immunity came up as he promised to name his protectors that Sen. Leila De Lima had lamented will likely again include her.
Espinosa’s slain father and namesake, Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., reportedly executed an affidavit tagging De Lima and other individuals as his protectors.
The elder Espinosa was killed two weeks ago in his jail cell in Leyte by policemen from the regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) who were serving a search warrant.
The senators also were cool to suggestions to continue the hearings on Espinosa’s death in executive session as Kerwin is reportedly set to testify and name names.
The inquiry is being conducted by the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs chaired Sen. Panfilo Lacson.
Escudero and Pimentel said they believe there is nothing in Kerwin’s anticipated testimony that will impinge on the country’s national security.
De Lima, for her part, said she was still deciding whether to attend the inquiry, or just sit in as observer.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said Espinosa is a vital witness in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.
Espinosa was fetched by a police team from the United Arab Emirates on Friday and placed in isolation at the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame.
Kerwin agreed to turn state witness after learning that his father was killed by policemen while in detention.
Dela Rosa said they are willing to present Kerwin before the Senate inquiry.
“If ordered, we will have to present him,” he said.
Lacson had sent Sen. Manny Pacquiao to talk with Kerwin at the PNP headquarters for “advancers.”
No comments:
Post a Comment