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Suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa now out of DOJ's witness protection, security program
Suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa now out of DOJ's witness protection, security program
Suspected drug lord Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa has been removed from the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Program (WPSBP) of the Department of Justice (DOJ) “for various violations” while under detention at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Espinosa is detained because of the criminal charges involving dangerous drugs filed against him and pending before the Manila and Leyte regional trial courts.
Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra, himself, issued the notice to Espinosa based on documents obtained by journalists covering the DOJ.
In notice dated last Jan. 31, Guevarra told Espinosa: “You are hereby given notice of the termination of your coverage under the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Program (WPSBP), upon the recommendation of OIC Deputy Director Atty. Eleanor Rachel M. Angeles, National Bureau of Investigation, effective immediately, in view of your continued commitment of various violations inside the detention facility....”
“Accordingly, the termination of your coverage carries the accessory coverage of your wife and dependents,” the termination notice stated.
Espinosa’s violations of the terms and conditions of his NBI detention, as cited in the notice, were “harassment of other inmates; smuggling activities; drinking liquor; extorting money from other inmates in exchange that the latter will not be committed to another detention facility; violating the curfew hours and roaming around the cells of other inmates, despite repeated warnings not to do so; communicating with other inmates on cases involving violations of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002; and possessing prohibited items such as mobile phones and bladed weapons, during clearing operations.”
“Further, on 13 January 2022, the National Bureau of Investigation discovered that you and two other inmates were planning to escape from the detention facility which is contrary to the Memorandum of Agreement you have with the WPSBP,” Guevarra also pointed out in the notice.
He said that under the memorandum of agreement, Espinosa agreed to “abide by WPSBP policies, restrictions, directives, rules and regulations.”
Due to Espinosa’s escape attempt, NBI Officer-in-Charge Eric B. Distor asked the DOJ to transfer Espinosa to the facility of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Taguig City.