(Eagle News) — Not guilty.
This was the plea of alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa during his arraignment for illegal drug trading at the Manila Regional Trial Court on Friday.
“Wala talaga akong kasalanan kasi mga kagagawan ng mga pulis. Lagi nalang nilang ginagawa na magplant ng scenario para lang sa accomplishment nila,” Espinosa told reporters after the arraignment at Branch 26.
His case is being heard at the Manila court and not in the Baybay Regional Trial Court on the basis of a Supreme Court order.
Both the prosecution and the defense had asked the High Court for the venue transfer, citing security reasons.
According to Espinosa, he was out of the country at the time police conducted a buy-bust operation that led to the arrest of Jose Antipuesto, Jessie Ocarez, Marcelo Adorco, Ernesto Dumalat and Jeffrey Pesquera in July 2016.
Prosecutors had said it was Espinosa who ordered the five to sell shabu, and filed charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act against him.
“Paano mo makakasuhan ang isang tao na wala sa lugar?” he asked.
Judge Silvino Pampilo Jr. scheduled the pre-trial hearing to Nov. 10.
Separate cases
Espinosa is the son of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa, who was named by President Rodrigo Duterte as a narcopolitician.
The mayor was killed in what police said was a legitimate police operation while he was detained in a Leyte cell.
Espinosa also faces separate cases for illegal possession of explosives and firearms before Judge Marivic Balisi-Umali of Branch 20 of the Manila RTC.
He testified in a Senate hearing last year that Senator Leila de Lima received money from him for her senatorial bid in 2016.
He said this was done through her driver, Ronnie Dayan.
