PNP tightens security in Camp Crame ahead of Kerwin Espinosa's arrival 

The Philippine National Police (PNP) will be implementing stricter security measures in Camp Crame early morning on Friday for the arrival of suspected Eastern Visayas drug lord Kerwin Espinosa.

PNP spokesperson Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos said they need to ensure the safety and security of Espinosa who was arrested in Abu Dhabi last month.

“As stated by our PNP chief ( Director General Ronald dela Rosa) kailangan ho naming maghigpit dito and also we are planning to present him to the media so the people will know that he is safe, he is under the custody of the PNP upon arrival from UAE,” Carlos said in a briefing.

Carlos said for Espinosa’s arrival, the PNP will open only one gate in its headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Personnel of the National Capital Region Police Office will also be deployed to secure the perimeter.

Camp Crame Media personnel will pass through at least two layers of accreditation and checking before being allowed to enter the venue of the press conference where Espinosa will be presented.

Upon arrival at the airport, Espinosa will be met by immigration officers for the processing of his papers, Carlos said.

When Espinosa has been cleared and all the documentation have been processed, he will be brought to Camp Crame through secured routes.

“There will be primary, alternate, contingency, and emergency routes prepared by those in charge for (Espinosa’s) security,” Carlos said.

According to the PNP spokesperson, the first scenario is Espinosa will be immediately presented to the media upon arrival at Camp Crame.

The second scenario is Espinosa will undergo the booking procedures and medical check up first before he is presented to the media.

Carlos refused to say where Espinosa will undergo the booking procedure and be detained but said it will not at the "White House,"official residence of PNP chief, where the Kerwin’s father, deceased Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa, stayed in August when he surrendered to Dela Rosa in August.

“Definitely not in the White House because Kerwin is a wanted person unlike before when the person of interest was a free man at that time and he sought the assistance of the chief PNP,” Carlos said.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier named the Espinosas as among those involved in illegal drugs trade.

The elder Espinosa was killed in a supposed firefight inside the Baybay City Provincial Jail in Leyte earlier this month. — VVP, GMA News