Suspected drug lord Roland “Kerwin” Espinosa was nabbed by police operatives in the UAE in cooperation with PNP and the Interpol. He should have known better than go into hiding in one of the safest countries in the world, Pinoy netizens in the country say.
DUBAI: Suspected drug lord Roland “Kerwin” Espinosa, Jr. should have known better than go into hiding in the UAE to stay away from the long arm of the law, Pinoy netizens in the country are saying.
Philippine police have now focused investigation on the people who may have provided support to Espinosa, a fugitive with four arrest warrants to his name who was nabbed by joint intelligence operatives on Oct.16 at an Abu Dhabi flat he has been staying for the past two months. Ambassador Constancio R. Vingno, Jr. lauded the Abu Dhabi Criminal Investigation Division (CID) for successfully executing the arrest operation with the Philippine National Police (PNP) in a “very professional manner.” “Siyempre, kapuri-puri sila.
Very professional kaya perfect ang execution ng paghuli sa kanya (Espinosa),” Vingno told The Filipino Times. “They kept quiet about it. Nobody knew about the operation except those involved and he was captured without any untoward incident. That’s a very professional and perfect execution,” he added.
Irate netizens
Postings about the arrest on The Filipino Times Facebook page generated remarks from mostly irate Filipinos chiding Espinosa for going to the UAE to evade arrest. “Akala mo di ka mahahagilap ha? Thanks Abu Dhabi Police,” said Beverly Tabagay of Sharjah in his comment. “UAE pa talaga ang pinili. Buti dito ka pumunta at huli ka agad. Wala kang lusot.
Congratulations AUH Police,” remarked Raz Leken Bolislis who lives in Dubai. “Dito ka pa nagtago. There is no place here for criminals. Buti nga sa iyo,” said Monchit Celeste. “He’s crazy to hide here. No way!” said Anelia Andai. “Huli ka balbon. Di ka uubra dito,” for his part, Greggyen Pabinguit said. Espinosa is currently being held at Abu Dhabi’s Al Wathba Prison.
Operation
Vingno said he was informed about the operation on the morning of Sunday, Oct. 16 by a team of senior police officials from Manila accompanied by Col. Enrique Magalona, the Philippines’ police attaché in the Gulf region based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. With the Manila team was Senior Supt. Albert Ferro, acting director of the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group.
“The information about the impending arrest ended with me and I didn’t tell anybody. Umaga palang alam ko na na may nangyayari. Our police operatives gave the UAE police the intelligence. At 10pm Sunday night, they told me he (Espinosa) was already captured,” Vingno said.
Investigation
PNP, which officials said, acted on a tip that led to Espinosa’s arrest, has filed a request for local authorities to investigate names that have cropped up from Espinosa’s mobile phones. Espinosa arrived using a Philippine passport on August 1 via Etihad Airways flight 833 from Hong Kong, officials said. Espinosa’s arrest was based on four warrants by the Regional Trial Court of Leyte issued in connection with his alleged shabu trade in Leyte done in supposed cahoots with his father, Mayor Espinosa and at least 84 local government officials in the central Philippine province.
The PNP, on the basis of those warrants, requested the assistance of the International Criminal Police Organization or Interpol, the intergovernmental organization facilitating international police cooperation. Interpol headquarters in Lyons, France then issued a red notice to its counterparts worldwide for Espinosa.
Red Notice is the code used to seek the location and arrest of a person wanted by a judicial jurisdiction or an international tribunal with a view to his/her extradition. Espinosa reportedly flew to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on June 21via Cebu Pacific. The Espinosa father and son had an ultimatum issued by Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, who has relentlessly been waging a war against illegal drugs that have so far caused the lives of nearly 2,500 people – some 929 of them drug suspects – as of Aug. 31.
Extradition
Vingno said the Philippines has no extradition treaty with the UAE but in the absence of any violations of UAE laws that Espinosa may have committed during his stay, the ambassador said, “Idi-deport siya sa atin.” “It will now be diplomacy at work. Maski na wala tayong extradition treaty with UAE, the fact that nakipag-cooperate sila in capturing a fugitive from justice is a very good indication that he will be turned over to us,” he said. “Sa tingin ko baka magtagal ng kaunti, baka one or two weeks,” Vingno said about Espinosa’s extradition.
“Kung wala naming kaso laban sa kanya, pauuwiin na sya, paper work na lang yun.” Vingno said he went to Al Wathba Prison on Wednesday, Oct. 19, to see Espinosa but was told by the jail’s authorities that visitation was not allowed. He said he went to the detention center with Ferro and the two other top PNP officials, who apparently were the ones who would bring Espinosa back to the Philippines.
Wednesdays are regular embassy visitation days at Al Wathba Prison where about 150 overseas Filipino workers are serving time for offenses ranging from absconding of labor contracts to drugs, unpaid loans and immorality. “Ginamit ko na nga yung regular visitation day to see him (Espinosa) pero di pa rin kami pinayagan. Hindi daw naming pwedeng kausapin kasi iniimbestigahan pa sya,” Vingno said. He added, “Baka umuwi muna ang mga PNP officials. Pag naayos na ang paperwork at saka na lang sila babalik para madala nila siya sa Pilipinas.” The investigation is standard procedure to determine whether Espinosa had violated any UAE laws during his stay. If cleared, his deportation will be processed, officials said.
Lawyer Barney Almazar, director at Gulf Law, said that although the UAE and Philippines do not have an existing extradition treaty, the two governments can request a fugitive to be surrendered to the country where he has a pending case. He explained that in the absence of an extradition treaty, the request for a provisional arrest will have to be coursed through the Interpol, which will provide a “red notice” for the fugitive. “When Kerwin (Espinosa Jr.) was placed under the red notice, it means he is wanted by a national jurisdiction.
Interpol then helped the PNP to locate him for his arrest and eventual extradition. Once the requested state has issued the warrant pursuant to the request for extradition through the diplomatic channel (if there is a treaty) or Interpol (no treaty), arrest will follow,” Almazar said. He added that extradition hearing will then be set. “The judge must be satisfied that the conduct described in the warrant amounts to an extradition offence. If the judge decides extradition would be both proportionate and compatible with the fugitive’s human rights, extradition will be ordered.
Unless Keriwn appeals the decision or has a pending case or conviction in the UAE for a different offense, he will be surrendered to the Philippine police,” Almazar said. “It’s a process but I doubt it will really delay (extradition),” he added.
