Is Mayor Espinosa an eligible and reliable state witness despite of the allegations that he is linked to illegal drug trade in the Visayas?
The government is not closing its doors to the possibility of making Albuera, Leyte Mayor Ronaldo Espinosa as a state witness despite of his linkages to the illegal drug trade in the Visayas.
Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said that they are considering Espinosa’s bargain that is to make him a state witness in exchange of all information in connection to the prohibited trade.
Abella said in a news briefing, “I suppose that’s under consideration”.
Mayor Espinosa gave a taste of his revelations when he disclosed the involvement of Sen. Leila de Lima and other personalities in the drug matrix of President Rodrigo Duterte to the trade.
The mayor even name-dropped his own son, Kerwin, as the drug lord in their town whom he called on earlier this week to surrender.
Mayor Espinosa said, he is willig to name other personalities who have had transactions with his son but he wanted to make sure that he will be put under the witness protection program of the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The Espinosa patriarch earlier executed a seven-page affidavit naming powerful and influential individuals allegedly involved in Kerwin’s drug operation.
Espinosa said included were police officials, lawmakers and a senator.
But the mayor has yet to apply to be included in the witness protection program of the government.
Justice Sec. Vitaliano Aguirre said on Thursday, September 1, that the DOJ has yet to receive a formal request from the mayor.
Meanwhile, Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Atty. Salvador Panela said the local chief executive could be accepted as a state witness given that he was least guilty among the accused.
He said: “Yes, kaya nga magiging state witness eh. Ibig sabihon, inamin mo pero you are the least guilty”, Panelo said.
(Yes that is why he would be a state witness. It means that you admitted to the crime but you are least guilty so you could testify).