Whistle-blower Sandra Cam was able to speak at length with Espinosa in Abu Dhabi before he was flown to Manila on Friday.
“I can say for now there are big names, a senator, congressmen, governors, generals and some prosecutors, so we saw how widespread and deep the drug protectors are,” Cam told reporters at the Senate.
Kerwin Espinosa is set to testify on Wednesday before the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs chaired by Sen. Panfilo Lacson, which is conducting an inquiry into the killing of Kerwin’s father and namesake Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. inside his jail cell by policemen serving a search warrant earlier this month.
Cam declined to name names but when pressed whether or not there is more than one senator in Kerwin’s list, she replied: “I think so. Let’s see, they’re all incumbent.”
According to Kerwin, the unnamed senators received millions in drug money from him, including one whom he personally delivered cash to in three tranches – P1.7 million, P2 million and another P2 million – from October to December last year, she added.
Rolando “Kerwin” Espinosa Jr. will name incumbent senators and other government officials and ranking police officials who are allegedly his protectors or have benefited from his illegal drug trade.
Sen. Manny Pacquiao, who was also able to speak with Espinosa on Friday in his detention cell at Camp Crame, however told reporters the suspect only gave the name of one senator.
On Sunday, Sen. Leila De Lima issued a statement that she would not be surprised if Espinosa will tag her as among his protectors in government.
De Lima has been repeatedly named by President Duterte as the protector of drug syndicates when she was secretary of justice.
The second hearing of the committee was supposed to be conducted in Camp Crame as Lacson announced.