MANILA — Alleged drug trade figure Kerwin Espinosa has declared his readiness to testify before the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding alleged extrajudicial killings during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. Espinosa, whose father was killed in jail in 2016, said he is “1,000% willing” to cooperate with the ICC in seeking justice for his father’s death.
Espinosa, currently running for mayor of Albuera, Leyte, expressed hope that both the Philippine government and the ICC would investigate and deliver justice. He has also accused former Philippine National Police chief Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa of coercing him into admitting to drug lord activities during a Senate inquiry, which Dela Rosa has denied, stating Espinosa’s father had voluntarily admitted to their drug involvement.
Human rights lawyer Neri Colmenares highlighted that Espinosa’s testimony could be crucial only if he directly links Duterte and Dela Rosa to the drug war killings. Duterte has not responded to Espinosa’s claims but offered well wishes for his mayoral candidacy