In the presence of Senator Leila de Lima, a police official narrated during a Senate hearing on Thursday how she had supposedly received P8 million from a suspected drug lord.

De Lima herself gave her approval to Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido, police chief of Albuera, Leyte, to proceed with his testimony when asked about the alleged drug personalities named in the affidavit of slain Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.

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“I don’t mind that you disclose because I know that my name is in the number one list if we are to believe the announcement of Secretary Aguirre,” the lady senator said, referring to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.

Espenido then told the committee that not only the slain mayor, but even his family members, attested that De Lima had met and even talked for more than 20 minutes to Espinosa’s son and suspected drug lord Kerwin at Burnham Park in Baguio City.

He said the Espinosa family even took a picture with the lady senator.

But Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, who was presiding over the hearing as chair of the committee, said that politicians are usually approached by people, who want to have a picture with them.

At that point, Espenido disclosed that another son of the slain mayor Kevin had executed an affidavit claiming that he gave P8 million to De Lima at a restaurant in Pasay City.

“Sa affidavit ni Kevin, yung anak, sya na ang nagsalaysay ngayon, P8 million ang binigay noong first na magkita sila (In the affidavit of Kevin, son of the late mayor, he stated that he gave P8 million to De Lima when they first met),” the police official said.

“Saan daw ibinigay? Sa Burnham Park? Open yun ah (Where did he give it? At Burnham Park? It’s an open area)?” Lacson asked.

Espenido said that based on Kevin’s affidavit, the money was given during a meeting at Dampa restaurant at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

De Lima had repeatedly denied receiving money from the illegal drug trade. RAM/rga

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