Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 4) — A court in Manila on Monday acquitted self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa of illegal possession of firearms and explosives charges.
The consolidated decision signed by presiding judge Janice R. Yulo-Antero of Branch 16 of the Regional Trial Court of Manila said the prosecution “miserably failed to prove the guilt of accused Rolan Espinosa y Eslabon alias “Kerwin Espinosa” beyond reasonable doubt that he was in effective control and possession over the firearms/weapons ammunitions, neither was he in actual nor constructive possession of the same.”
The charges stemmed from a 2016 raid on the Espinosa compound in Albuera, Leyte.
In its decision, the court noted the testimony given by Marcelo Adorco, Espinosa’s bodyguard, who said the guns he mentioned in his sworn statement on Aug. 4, 2016 were from then mayor Rolando Espinosa.
“Wala pong kinalaman si Kerwin Espinosa tungkol sa mga baril,” he said.
[Translation: Kerwin Espinosa had nothing to do about the guns.]
“Ang totoo niyan, noong ni-raid ng mga pulis ang Espinosa Compound sa Sitio Tinago II, Brgy. Benholho, Albuera, Leyte, ang lahat ng mga baril, mga bala at iba pang ebidensya ay nakuha mula sa bahay ni Mayor Rolando Espinosa at hinakot ng mga pulis papunta doon sa kabilang bahay kung saan tumutuloy si Kerwin kung siya ay umuuwi sa Albuera. Pero ang bahay na ‘yon ay bahay din ni Mayor Rolando Espinosa. Wala namang sariling bahay si Kerwin,” he added.
[Translation: The truth is when police raided the Espinosa Compound at Sitio Tinago II, Brgy. Benholho, Albuera, Leyte, all of the guns, bullets and other evidence were taken from the house of Mayor Rolando Espinosa and were taken by the police to the other house where Kerwin stayed when he came home to Albuera. But that house is also the house of Mayor Rolando Espinosa. Kerwin does not have his own house.]
The decision also orders the warden of the Manila City Jail to release Espinosa unless he is being detained for other unlawful causes.
Espinosa was also recently acquitted of drug trafficking charges after prosecutors failed to provide enough evidence against him.
Espinosa has been cleared of drug trafficking charges twice, most recently in 2021, when Makati City RTC Branch 64 rejected the charges due to a lack of evidence. He was acquitted in the case also on the basis of a demurrer.
In 2022, Espinosa retracted his allegations against former Senator Leila de Lima and her involvement in the illegal drug trade, saying he invented his stories of their dealings because police threatened him.
