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No green light yet for Kerwin Espinosa’s repatriation

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Rowie Dela Cruz, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau

<h3>No green light yet for Kerwin Espinosa’s repatriation from UAE</h3><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/nation/8/3/kerwin-espinosa-080316.jpg "/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Alleged drug trafficker Kerwin Epinosa. File Photo</div></figcaption></figure></div>The Philippine Embassy and national police Wednesday are still awaiting word from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on when they can visit and repatriate alleged drug trafficker Kerwin Epinosa, two days after his arrest in Abu Dhabi.Espinosa, who spent months in hiding after President Duterte named him as the leader of a drug ring in the Visayas, was nabbed by Abu Dhabi and Filipino anti-narcotics policemen on Monday. He has since remained in the custody of UAE’s Ministry of Interior.Filipino authorities have yet to talk to Espinosa pending an investigation into whether the alleged crime boss violated any law in UAE, said Senior Superintendent Albert Ferro, acting director of the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (PNP-AIDG).&quot;The process is that their Prosecutor’s Office will decide if Kerwin had violated any law here in Abu Dhabi or UAE,&quot; he said.Philippine ambassador to the UAE, Constancio Vingno Jr. on Tuesday told radio DZMM that the Ministry of Interior was also seeking confirmation on whether Espinosa received protection while in hiding.Vingno said Espinosa was staying at an apartment 30 minutes away from the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi before his arrest.Without the help of supposed coddlers, the alleged drug boss could not have rented the flat under his own name since he is only a tourist, the envoy noted.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/18/16/who-hid-kerwin-espinosa-stayed-in-flat-near-embassy-envoy">Who hid Kerwin? Espinosa stayed in flat near embassy - envoy</a></li></ul>The Philippine post has written to the UAE government, requesting an audience with Espinosa and his immediate repatriation to Manila.The PNP, meanwhile, guaranteed they will follow the UAE protocols. “We cannot bypass them, we are only cooperating with them about the process.&quot; President Duterte in August issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the surrender of Espinosa and his father, Albuera Mayor Roland Espinosa of Leyte province, after tagging them as drug coddlers.The older Espinosa immediately surrendered to PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, and confirmed that his son is involved in illegal drugs.The younger Espinosa, also known as “Boss K” in the crime underworld, remained a fugitive until overseas Filipino workers tipped off his whereabouts to the Abu Dhabi police and PNP-AIDG.Vingno confirmed yesterday that Espinosa first traveled to Palawan then Hong Kong, then proceeded to Dubai and later to Abu Dhabi. The Leyte police has filed criminal complaints against the Espinosas and seven others, including three media men and a Cebu town mayor allegedly involved in Kerwin’s drug ring. -- With Eduard Matro, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau

The Philippine Embassy and national police Wednesday are still awaiting word from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on when they can visit and repatriate alleged drug trafficker Kerwin Epinosa, two days after his arrest in Abu Dhabi.

The Philippine Embassy and national police Wednesday are still awaiting word from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on when they can visit and repatriate alleged drug trafficker Kerwin Epinosa, two days after his arrest in Abu Dhabi.

No green light yet for Kerwin Espinosa’s repatriation

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No green light yet for Kerwin Espinosa’s repatriation

Rowie Dela Cruz,

ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau

Published October 19, 2016 02:57 PM PHT

Read More:

drugs

Kerwin Espinosa

war on drugs

Constancio Vingno

United Arab Emirates

UAE

Abu Dhabi

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