Kerwin Espinosa says father's affidavit bore different signatures

Suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa on Wednesday questioned the veracity of the judicial affidavit his father, slain Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa, prepared that supposedly contained the names of protectors of his narcotics business.

Kerwin told senators investigating his father's death that the signatures on the affidavits, taken by the Albuera police on August 24 and October 3, were noticeably different from page to page.

"Paiba-iba ang signature sa lahat ng pages," Kerwin said in response to a query of Senator Vicente Sotto III.

He also claimed to have read the content of the affidavits.

Kerwin is said to be running the largest drug operations in Eastern Visayas.

His protectors allegedly include government officials, police, military officers, and media men who received payoffs from him, according to the mayor's affidavit which came out in the media after he died in an alleged shootout with policemen at a jail facility in Baybay City on November 5.

Some of those named in the affidavit are former Justice Secretary and now Senator Leila De Lima, former PNP officer-in-charge Leonardo Espina, Leyte Gov. Dominico Petilla and Leyte Rep. Vicente Veloso. 

But during the hearing, Kerwin said he had not transacted with Veloso, a retired Court of Appeals justice, Petilla, and Leyte Vice Governor Carlo Loreto.

Kerwin said he knew Baybay Vice Mayor Mike Cari, who was also mentioned by the police, but he also denied having any transaction with him.

He also denied giving proceeds of illegal drug operations to Richard Gomez, a former actor who is now the mayor of Ormor City.

However, Kerwin claimed to have contributed P8 million for De Lima's campaign kitty, an allegation the senator repeatedly denied. —KBK, GMA News