Kerwin Espinosa, son of the late mayor Rolando Espinosa, was arrested in the United Arab Emirates last month and will face drug trafficking charges. / AFP PHOTO / NOEL CELIS
(Eagle News)– Senator Leila de Lima refused to confront or question alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa at the Senate hearing on Wednesday (November 23), after the latter claimed that De Lima received drug money from him.
Kerwin claimed that he gave P8 million for De Lima’s senatorial campaign fund through her ex aide Ronnie Dayan.
She then made a categorical blanker denial of his allegations.
“Let me say this to my colleagues here, and everyone in this hall, and to everyone listening and watching these proceedings… I say this to you: I categorically, firmly, and absolutely deny having known Mr. Kerwin Espinosa,” she said.
“I do not remember any instance or occasion of having met him. I categorically, firmly, and absolutely deny having received any money—any cash—from Mr. Kerwin Espinosa, either directly or indirectly through anyone else, in any occasion at any time,” she added.
She said that “it’s pointless for me to question him on those points.”
“And I also feel that it would not be appropriate for me to do so because there would be questions on my objectivity, on my interest because I’m being implicated expressedly as having received that money
De Lima said Kerwin’s testimony about her is a “total fabrication.”
She made this categorical denial even after Kerwin detailed their alleged meeting in Baguio City, where a photo of him , together with then former justice secretary De Lima, can be seen smiling for the camera.
De Lima then gave her concluding message to Kerwin.
“I cannot talk to him directly but… May God forgive you for all your sins and may God forgive you for all your lies about me,” she said. “And I forgive you.”