Two senators cast doubt on Kerwin Espinosa’s qualification as state witness despite his readiness to spill the beans about his father’s death and the personalities involved in the drug trade.
“If he is the mastermind, and he is on the top of the organization, of the pyramid, then he is the most guilty, said Pimentel, a lawyer, about the alleged top drug lord in the Eastern Visayas . “If he benefits from this, therefore he is the most guilty, he should be imprisoned, and not just the small fish.”
He said Espinosa cannot escape prosecution under our laws unless he names “bigger fish” than him.
Senator Francis Escudero agreed with Pimentel, explaining that one of the requirements to be a state witness under the witness protection program is being the least guilty.
“He is the head of the syndicate. How can we consider him as a state witness?” he asked in a separate radio interview.
Espinosa is expected to attend the Senate investigation on the death of his father, Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., who reportedly engaged in a firefight with police who were conducting a search operation in his Baybay City prison cell.
The older Espinosa executed before his death an affidavit naming 200 government officials, including Senator Leila de Lima, who allegedly received drug money from his son.
Pimentel and Escudero also agreed that it is up to De Lima whether or not she would inhibit from participating in the Senate hearing next week.
“If she wants to confront the person accusing her, that is her right. For me, it is better to have a confrontation so that we could get the natural and the believable version of the story,” Pimentel said.
Escudero said they will not force De Lima to inhibit from participating in the hearing.
He said it is in the lady senator’s best interest to face Espinosa so she can personally rebut the latter’s allegations against her.
The post Kerwin’s State Witness Qualification Questioned appeared first on Manila Bulletin.
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