PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte insisted Thursday that Kerwin Espinosa is among the top drug lords illegally operating in Visayas, even after the latter had denied the allegation.
“What I’ve initially heard was Judas is the first [alleged drug lord], he (Espinosa) is second. I should crucify him in order to know the truth,” Duterte told reporters early Thursday at the Davao City’s international airport.
Duterte made the remark when sought for reaction on Espinosa’s earlier statement that he was involved in narcotics sale but is not a drug lord.
The President said the government will not fabricate lies just to implicate someone.
“You choose: Believe the government or believe them. The government will not sell drugs; the government is the one that instead kill [those involved in drugs],” Duterte said.
Espinosa, who returned to the Philippines from Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates last Friday, denied that he was the top drug lord of Eastern Visayas.
“I was involved [in narcotics sale] but I am not the drug lord in Eastern Visayas,” Espinosa said in a brief interview before his plane landed in Manila. “I sold drugs before but when I went out of the country, I stopped already.”
Espinosa, at the resumption of Senate probe into drug proliferation, revealed Wednesday his top sources of drugs, including Jeffrey “Jaguar” Diaz, alleged top drug lord of Central Visayas, and a certain Lovely Adam Impal.
Espinosa, based on his affidavit, said he had been transacting with them since 2005. (Sunnex)
