MANILA - The Department of Justice (DOJ) is open to the possibility of placing suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa under its Witness Protection Program (WPP).

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said the DOJ will study the matter, especially since Espinosa is also being linked to former Justice Secretary and now Senator Leila de Lima.

Aside from a photograph that shows De Lima and Espinosa together, Albuera police chief Jove Espenido filed a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against De Lima for allegedly receiving drug money from Espinosa, son of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa who is detained also on drug charges.

The younger Espinosa was arrested earlier today in Abu Dhabi, with the cooperation of the Interpol.

Aguirre said the DOJ will study what immunity it may grant Espinosa should he be willing to testify about the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) drug trade, considering that he already has pending cases before the courts.

COMPLAINTS VS DE LIMA

Aguirre, meantime, said the DOJ will study whether it has primary and sole jurisdiction over two complaints for violations of Republic Act (RA) No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act) against De Lima and several others.

De Lima, based on several testimonies by high-profile inmates of the NBP and former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officer-in-charge and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Deputy Director Rafael Ragos, allegedly received millions in drug payoffs which she reportedly used to fund her senatorial bid.

Aguirre said that while the Office of the Ombudsman has primary jurisdiction over cases involving public officials, the charges already pending against De Lima do not constitute graft offenses.

The DOJ will review whether the cases still have to be turned over to the Ombudsman once they are resolved, or filed before the appropriate regional trial court instead.