CIDG Region 8 chief got P1.5M from Kerwin Espinosa —Pacquiao

The head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Eastern Visayas (CIDG-8) relieved over the death of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa allegedly received P1.5 million from alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, Senator Manny Pacquiao revealed Tuesday.

“Sabi niya, yung si Marcos daw, dahil tumatakbo yung misis niya, and then hinihingian siya ng P3 million. Nagtawaran pa tapos sabi P2.5 [million] na lang pero hindi talaga kung hindi P1.5 [million] lang nabigay pauna,” Pacquiao said in a television interview.

Pacquiao was referring to Superintendent Marvin Marcos, the chief of CIDG in Region 8, who was relieved pending the investigation over Mayor Espinosa’s death.

The CIDG-8 had claimed that Mayor Espinosa was killed in a shootout while detained inside the Leyte Sub-Provincial Jail.

Pacquiao had a one-hour meeting with the late mayor’s son, Kerwin, when the latter arrived from Abu Dhabi last week.

Pacquiao, quoting Kerwin, said it was Mayor Espinosa who handed the money to Marcos.

“Ang tatay niya ang nag-abot kay Marcos and then siya nandyan sa sasakyan pero hindi na siya bumaba,” the senator said.

Pacquiao also said that Senator Leila de Lima supposedly received P8 million from Kerwin.

He said there were other high-ranking officials implicated by Kerwin, which he will mention when the Senate probe on Mayor Espinosa’s death resumes Wednesday.

Pacquiao said he believes Kerwin is telling the truth.

“Nagsasabi naman siya ng totoo. Sabi niya nga sa akin pinatay nila ang tatay ko para hindi ako magsalita, ngayon magsasalita talaga ako sabihin ko ang lahat ng nabigyan ko ng pera,” Pacquiao said. —ALG, GMA News