De Lima opposes keeping Kerwin Espinosa under WPP

Kerwin Espinosa (PNA photo by Avito C.Dalan)

MANILA—Self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa should not be placed under the government’s Witness Protection Program (WPP) because he is “the most guilty” being directly involved in the drug trade, according to Sen. Leila de Lima.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has placed Espinosa under the program after he was transferred to the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation on Dec. 14 from the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (PNP-AIDG).

De Lima, former Justice Secretary, said that the most important legal criterion was that the prospective state witness must not appear to be the most guilty, not necessarily the least guilty.

“Now, in the case of Kerwin Espinosa, based on the very story he has been forced to weave out of fear for his own life, he remains to be the most guilty as he is the one who is directly involved in the drug trade,” De Lima said.

“…There would be no alleged protectors, no alleged drug money, no alleged bagmen without someone running the drug trafficking operations. So how? How can Kerwin not be the most guilty?” she added.

A person formally included in the WPP coverage would be given several privileges, including provision of a housing facility or safe house that could be extended to members of their families, financial assistance, assistance in obtaining means of livelihood, payment equivalent of salary as compensation for absences in work, travel expenses and medical expenses.