Manila court acquits Kerwin Espinosa over 2016 raid

A Manila court on Monday acquitted self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa of illegal possession of firearms and explosives charges in connection with a raid in his father’s house in August 2016.

According to a four-page consolidated decision, the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 16 acquitted Espinosa for failure of the prosecution to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

“The prosecution miserably failed to prove the guilt of accused Rolan Espinosa y Eslabon alias ‘Kerwin Espinosa’ beyond reasonable doubt that he was in effective control and possession over the firearms/weapons and ammunitions neither was he in actual nor constructive possession of the same,” the court said.

The case against Espinosa’s father was dismissed as he was killed in a shootout inside the Baybay City Jail in Leyte on November 5.

This stemmed from the numerous firearms retrieved from the property allegedly owned by Espinosa in Barangay Binolho, Albuerta, Leyte on August 3, 2016. Six armed men were also killed during the raid.

However, witness Marcelo Adorco recanted his statement that he was the bodyguard or driver of Espinosa. Adorco said he was the bodyguard and driver of former Mayor Rolando, Espinosa’s late father.

Adorco said that the firearms and ammunition were all taken from the house of the former mayor and that Espinosa had no knowledge about these.

In a message to GMA News Online, Atty. Raymund Palad, Espinosa’s lawyer, said Espinosa was also abroad during the raid.

Palad said Espinosa and his family left the country on June 21, 2016.

Meanwhile, the court ordered the Manila City Jail to release Espinosa unless he is being detained for other lawful causes.

However, Espinosa has a pending case for money laundering.

READ: TIMELINE: From the arrest to the killing of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa

 —KG, GMA Integrated News