MANILA - Suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa on Wednesday claimed he had gross sales of about P50 million yearly in the illegal drug trade while giving out P20 million in protection money to individuals linked to his illegal drug network.

In his testimony before the Senate, Espinosa said he has been earning around P50 to P60 million a year since 2013.

However, he only earned around P30 to P35 million in 2016.

Espinosa said about 50 percent of gross sales in his drug business is profit. Of this amount, he sets aside more than P20 million to pay off officials and other people involved in the narcotics trade.

"Sa P50 million, your honor, may P20 (million) plus ako na payola," he said at a Senate hearing.

(In my P50-million earnings, I allocate more than P20 million for drug payoffs.)

According to Espinosa, he also has legitimate businesses where he pays taxes.

Espinosa earlier claimed he gave at least P3 million to the police official who led the raid that led to the killing of his father, Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa.

He also claimed he gave a total of P8 million in drug payoffs to Senator Leila de Lima through her former driver, Ronnie Dayan.