Rolando Espinosa names cops, lawmakers as Kerwin’s drug cohorts

Several police officers, members of Congress, including a senator, are among the cohorts of alleged Eastern Visayas druglord Kerwin Espinosa, his father Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa said in a news conference on Tuesday.

A report from Jay Sabale on "24 Oras" said Espinosa was about to reveal the identities of some 30 individuals he mentioned in his affidavit before he changed his mind for fear his life and those of his loved ones.

"Ang buhay ko ngayon ay, kumbaga maliit na lang. Nanganganib na ang buhay ko," Espinosa said.

After breaking into tears in his news conference, Espinosa started spilling the beans on the personalities mentioned in his affidavit.

"May mga members sa PNP... may members ng Kongreso," Espinosa said.

Asked if his affidavit included a senator, Espinosa slightly nodded.

Albuera chief of police Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido claimed he saw the ledger that was the basis of the affidavit.

Espenido confirmed the affidavit pointed to a senator who is probably a former secretary of justice.

"May senador nga. May senador (na) isa, nakita ko. Dating secretary ng DOJ siguro yun... Nakita ko lang," Espenido said.

The report said Espinosa is no longer aware of the wheareabouts of Kerwin and renewed the call for his son to surrender to the authorities.

"Ako po ay nananawagan sa aking anak na si Roland 'Kerwin' Espinosa na sana po ay mag-surrender na siya dito,” the elder Espinosa said.

Senator Leila De Lima, who's the former secretary of justice, has repeatedly denied the allegations that she was involved in protecting drug dealers. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/NB, GMA News