Kerwin Espinosa, Espenido face off at Manila court

Self-confessed drug distributor Kerwin Espinosa and Ozamiz City police head Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido faced off on Friday at the Manila court hearing Espinosa's illegal drug trading and possession of illegal firearms cases.

Espenido, former chief of the Albuera, Leyte police, appeared at the hearing called by Judge Silvino Pampilo Jr. of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 26 for the pre-trial and joint trial of the cases, according to a report of Super Radyo dzBB's Carlo Mateo on "Balitanghali."

During the hearing, the police officers explained their absence in the previous hearing on November 10.

Espenido said he was in Hong Kong at the time for a vacation sponsored by President Rodrigo Duterte who gave him an award last August for outstanding work against illegal drugs. The Ozamiz police official also mentioned flight disruptions in connection with last month's 31st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.

Chief Inspector Shevert Alvin Machete and other policemen said they failed to receive the court's subpoena for them to attend the hearing. They also expressed concern about transportation cost.

Pending before the Manila RTC Branch 26 are the illegal drug trading case that stemmed from a police raid on Espinosa's residence in July last year and the cases of possession of dangerous drugs and illegal possession of firearms that were transferred by the Supreme Court from the Ormoc RTC.

Espinosa is also facing separate cases for illegal possession of explosives and firearms before Judge Marivic Balisi-Umali of the Manila RTC Branch 20 in relation to the raid on July 28 last year where authorities seized illegal drugs reportedly worth P1.9 million and assorted firearms.

He pleaded not guilty to all cases in connection with the raid.

The prosecution presented as evidence against Espinosa the more than 11 kilograms of shabu that were seized last year.

Espinosa shrugged off the cases, saying he was already outside of the country when the raid took place and the pieces of evidence had been planted by the police.

Espenido, however, said drug traders are still able to operate even if they are outside of the country.  The prosecution also vowed to present more evidence against Espinosa in future hearings. —Virgil Lopez/KG/KBK, GMA News