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BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – Days after drug trafficking charges were filed against Leila de Lima at the Department of Justice (DOJ), a similar case against the beleaguered senator was lodged at the Office of the Ombudsman.
Chief Inspector Jove Espenido, head of the police in Albuera, Leyte, accused de Lima of receiving P4 million worth of drug money from suspected Eastern Visayas drug lord Kerwin Espinosa.
Espenido claimed the charges were based on the series of investigations and interviews with people privy to Espinosa’s activities.
“Our investigation led to the discovery of several personalities allegedly receiving payola from Kerwin, and [they include] former DOJ secretary de Lima,” he said in an interview.
De Lima was identified in the attached affidavits of Espinosa’s driver Marcelo Adorco, brother Rolan Kevin Espinosa and personal accountant Vervica Diano.
Several other people linked to the drug trade in Eastern Visayas, according to Albuera mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., father of Kerwin, were also named in the complaint.
De Lima denied knowing Kerwin Espinosa and receiving drug money from him.
According to the senator, the allegation was part of the “web of lies” her critics concocted against her.
“Lahat na lang nagbibigay sa’kin ng pera. Lahat na lang. Sobra na talaga e,” a news website quoted de Lima as saying. “I don’t know the Espinosas. Hindi ko naman alam na siya iyong anak.”
De Lima stressed she was determined to disprove all the allegations against her.
“I will face all of that,” she said. “Whatever case they file against me, I will face them kasi alam ko kung ano iyong totoo. Alam ko wala akong kinalaman diyan. I maintain my innocence.”
The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption accused de Lima of drug trafficking before the DOJ. It claimed the senator and several other personalities conspired behind the proliferation of drugs at the New Bilibid Prison. (With GMA News/PN)
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