Manila: A suspected drug lord promised to be a state witness and identify his long-time protectors in government after his return from the UAE next week, a senior official said.

“I received a letter from the Philippine ambassador to United Arab Emirates who said that Kerwin Espinosa wanted to become a state witness. He was willing to be enrolled under the Witness Protection Programme [WPP] of the justice department,” said Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre.

“He has volunteered to submit a sworn statement identifying his top level protectors, including his operations in central Philippines,” said Aguirre, adding, “He appears to be the least guilty in the illegal drug trade in central Philippines. His protector from the government could be the most guilty in the said illegal drug trade.”

Aguirre did not give details.

On Sunday, a team from the Philippine National Police will leave for Abu Dhabi to escort Espinosa, said Aguirre. “Once he arrives in Manila, he will be brought to the PNP custodial centre, then turned over with his sworn statement to the justice department, which will grant him WPP custody.”

President Rodrigo Duterte has identified Espinosa as a drug lord in charge of Eastern Visayas.

Espinosa was arrested in Abu Dhabi on October 17 after hiding abroad for months. Since then, he has been in the custody of police authorities in Abu Dhabi.

Espinosa’s father Rolando, the mayor of Albuera, Leyte, was killed while in detention in Leyte’s Baybay sub-provincial jail on November 5.

Rolando was killed during a shootout with policemen who were serving him a search warrant, officials said.