House QuadComm cites in contempt cop in Mayor Espinosa’s cell raid 

The House of Representatives Quad Committee on Tuesday cited in contempt one of the police officers who served a search warrant to former Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa while detained in 2016. 

The committee also moved to detain Police Major Leo Laraga in Quezon City Jail. 

The motion was made by Antipolo 2nd district Rep. Romeo Acop after Laraga failed to truthfully answer the lawmakers’ questions regarding the serving of search warrant to Espinosa. 

Laraga said that their deponent Paul Olindan, whom he described as a former inmate, claimed that Espinosa had a gun with him inside the detention. 

“According to him, he was able to go inside when he was invited,” said Laraga.  

But when Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Stephen Paduano asked the police officer if he was able to verify the deponent’s statement, Lagara replied: “Me personally, I did not.” 

Meanwhile, Acop asked how the operatives knew of the deponent. 

Laraga said, “There was a police hander, Mr. Chair.” He added that the said handler has already retired. 

“Ang galing mong gumawa ng istorya (You are good in making up stories),” Acop said in dismay. 

Laraga named the person who introduced Olindan to them. The QuadComm moved to invite the said retired police officer to attend the next hearing. 

Acop also pressed Laraga regarding the credibility of Olindan’s statement. 

“Dapat nag-suspetsya ka na kung paano nakakapagbigay ang isang tao na dating PDL, pero hindi naman PDL sa Baybay, ng statement na may baril ang the late Mayor Espinosa sa selda niya,” said Acop. 

(You should have suspected how come a former PDL, who was not even detained in Baybay, was able to come up with a statement saying that the late Mayor Espinosa had a gun with him inside his cell.) 

But the latter reiterated that the deponent has  “personal knowledge” about the alleged gun of Espinosa. 

“You are lying!” Acop lamented. “May I respectfully move that we cite in contempt for violation of Section 11.” 

No one from the committee objected to the move. 

Espinosa was arrested for drug-related charges.

The cops were about to serve a search warrant on Espinosa for violation of Republic Act No. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. This allegedly led to a firefight inside the mayor’s cell. Espinosa was shot in the head.—LDF, GMA Integrated News