Guevarra tells NBI to prioritize probe on Kerwin Espinosa

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Thursday said he has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to prioritize looking into allegations that self-confessed drug distributor Kerwin Espinosa remains involved in the illegal drug trade despite being in government custody.

Authorities are investigating allegations which if proven may affect Espinosa's coverage under the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Witness Protection Program (WPP), presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said earlier this week.

Guevarra, who confirmed he ordered the NBI to investigate, said: "I told (NBI) Chief (Eric) Distor to give priority to this matter."

Espinosa is in the custody of NBI, an attached agency of DOJ.

When asked if the allegations, if found to be true, will make Espinosa ineligible under the WPP, Guevarra said: "Let's wait for the report."

Reports last week said police official Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido claimed that Espinosa is behind illegal drug operations in Pampanga, Cavite, Bulacan, Pasay City, and Taguig City.

Espenido reportedly claimed that Espinosa was behind the more than P5 billion worth of shabu recently seized in Bulacan. The police operation resulted in the arrest of three persons, namely Yuwen Cai, Angela Tulio, and Ma. Lyn Tulio.

Espinosa is the son of the late Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa, whom President Rodrigo Duterte had tagged in the illegal drug trade. Rolando was killed in a jail in Leyte in 2016.

Kerwin faces several criminal charges in court. The NBI also filed at least two new criminal complaints against him before the DOJ this year over his alleged involvement in drug operations in the Visayas in previous years.—AOL, GMA News