Court of Appeals Sends Kerwin Espinosa’s Drug Charges Back to Manila Court

MANILA — The Court of Appeals (CA) has ordered a Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) to revisit the drug charges against Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa, reversing a previous decision that acquitted him.

According to Philippines News Agency, the appellate court vacated the Manila RTC Branch 26’s August 14, 2020, verdict, which had found Espinosa not guilty of violations of Section 5 and Section 11 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. The CA upheld the government’s position that the prosecution had been unfairly prevented from fully presenting its evidence.

The appeal stemmed from three separate accusations filed against Espinosa, including illegal possession of dangerous drugs and firearms, along with allegations related to drug trading and distribution from incidents dating back to April 26, 2011, and July 28, 2016. The Office of the Solicitor General contended that the trial court’s rulings were marred by grave abuse of discretion, arguing that the prosecution was not allowed to conclude its presentation. The CA criticized the trial court for issuing its decision without consolidating the three criminal cases and without the presence of the public prosecutor, who could have confirmed the prosecution’s intention to continue presenting evidence. The appellate court deemed these oversights as grave abuses of discretion, necessitating a reconsideration of the cases.