Suspected drug lord Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa, who attempted to escape from his detention cell at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), has been transferred to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facility in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Tuesday, April 19.
Prosecutor General Benedicto A. Malcontento confirmed that Espinosa is no longer being held at the NBI detention center in Manila.
Espinosa has multiple criminal cases pending before the Manila regional trial court (RTC) Branches 16 and 51; Makati City RTC Branch 65; Pasay City RTC Branch 114; Cebu City RTC Branch 23; and Ormoc City RTC Branch 12.
Last January 31, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra issued a notice that terminated Espinosa’s coverage under the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Program (WPSBP) “in view of continued commitment of various violations inside the detention facility....”
Guevarra said that under the agreement with WPSBP, Espinosa has to “abide by WPP policies, restrictions, directives, rules and regulations.”
But, Guevarra said, Espinosa committed violations like 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, roaming around the cells of other inmates, 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 which were confiscated 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 said in the notice sent to Espinosa.
Malcontento said that prior to Espinosa’s transfer to BJMP, government prosecutors filed the required motions before the courts where the criminal cases are pending.