Lawas denies link to Kerwin

CEBU, Philippines - A ranking police official in Central Visayas strongly denied reports that he acted as middleman between alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa and Daanbantayan Mayor Vicente Loot.

Police Senior Superintendent Rey Lyndon Lawas, deputy regional director for operations of Police Regional Office-7, said he does not know Kerwin and his father, the late Albuera town Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.

Lawas was mentioned in the affidavit of the late mayor as the one who allegedly introduced Kerwin to Loot, who was then a police general.

"Wala ko kaila nianang Espinosa or any of the Espinosas. Since birth, taga Cebu man jud ko. Wala ko kahibalo niana. So kung kinsa man ang nag-ingon nga ako, og another officers nag-paila nianing Espinosa to a certain officer, that is not true. It did not happen," Lawas told reporters.

Loot was among the police generals named by President Rodrigo Duterte as drug protectors. Lawas said somebody might be out to destroy his name.

 "How can I introduce them to another person? Being a public figure, being a public servant, makaila siguro sila nako. So posibleng gigamit nila akong pangalan, although that is just a speculation, but for myself wala gyud ko kaila ana nila," Lawas said.

He urged those behind the smear campaign against him to be truthful.

"Let us be truthful and honest because naa may Ginoo nag-tanaw, kahibaw man ang Ginoo unsa ta'ng klase nga pagka-tawo, kahibaw ang publiko unsa ta'ng klase nga pagka-tawo," Lawas said.

He said he is willing to face an investigation if necessary.

"Yes, moatubang ko niana. Moatubang ko pananglitan ipatawag ta. My conscience is clean, my personality is clean," he added. (FREEMAN)