KANANGA, Leyte- A couple arrested in an anti-drug operation of this town named alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa as their supplier of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride).
Not only that, Espinosa also gave them security so they could evade arrests from authorities, said Sarah Tan.
Tan and her husband, Ernesto, were arrested inside their house located at Riverside, Poblacion, this town.
Tan, 50 is considered as Kananga’s second drug pusher while her 54-year old husband is ranked just behind her, Chief Inspector Ricky Reli, town police chief, said.
According to her, it is Espinosa who provided them with shabu which they sold.
“Kerwin provided us (drug) supply. He promised he will do the rest so we will be protected (and not get arrested)”, she said during an interview.
Tan said that she normally received a gram of shabu valued at more than P260,000 from Espinosa who has long gone into hiding.
Espinosa and his father, Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. has been tagged by President Rodrigo Duterte as among the country’s biggest drug lords.
The embattled mayor, however, strongly denied the allegation though he faces complaints for possession of illegal drugs before the Leyte prosecutor’s office filed by the police.
Tan also said that Espinosa also provided them security so they could continue their illegal activity.
“There were times he would call telling me to cool down and leave the place for a while. Then days after, our house were raided”, she said.
The couple left the town last June and returned the following month to surrender to the police.
Tan insisted they already stopped in the prohibited business as she denied that the shabu seized from their houses were planted.
The local police, armed with a search warrant issued by Judge Ephrem Abando of Regional Trial Court Branch 18 in Hilongos, Leyte, seized from the couple nine sachets of shabu, P500 marked money and drug paraphernalia.
“The police are serious in running after those who still engaging in the outlawed occupation and who are still resorting to use drugs. I urge everybody to stop,” Reli said.
(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)
