Albuera Mayor Espinosa shot dead in jail cell

Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa and drug suspect Raul Yap were killed in an alleged shootout inside the Baybay City Provincial Jail early Saturday morning.

Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Region 8 were at the jail to serve search warrants on the two detainees for separate cases when the latter fired at the cops and a shootout ensued, Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Director Elmer Beltejar said.

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. 

Espinosa had been arrested for drug-related charges.

The CIDG was also going to serve a search warrant on Raul Yap for charges related to violation of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

The search warrants were issued by Judge Tarcelo Sabarre Jr. of the Regional Trial Court Branch 30 in Basey, Samar.

Beltejar spoke with GMA News Online before 7 a.m. Saturday and confirmed Espinosa's death.

He said elements of the CIDG Region 8 led by Police Chief Inspector Leo Laraga arrived at the Baybay City Sub-Provincial Jail in Brgy. Hipusngo at 4:10 a.m. on Saturday to implement the search warrants.

"It was a warrant application. It was purely CIDG. Walang coordination with PNP Region 8," Beltejar told GMA News Online.

Elements of the Scene of the Crime Operatives, who arrived at the scene at 5:58 a.m., recovered a Super Caliber .38 pistol, a magazine of live ammunition, a small, heat-sealed sachet of suspected shabu, and several drug paraphernalia in Espinosa’s cell.

Meanwhile, a 45-caliber pistol, a magazine of live ammunition, 10 big heat-sealed sachets and five medium-sized heat-sealed sachets of suspected shabu, 27 big heat-sealed sachets of suspected dried leaves of marijuana, and several drug paraphernalia were found in Yap’s cell.

Elements of the Scene of the Crime Operatives arrived at the jail later to process the crime scene.

Investigation

In a separate statement, PNP spokesperson Sr. Supt. Dionardo Carlos said, "As a matter of procedure, this incident will undergo investigation to establish the facts and circumstances surrrounding the incident."

"RD PRO8 CSupt Beltejar has constituted a panel that will look into the incident. Also, Regional Internal Affairs Service 8 (RIAS8) will conduct its own investigation," Carlos said.

In an interview with Super Radyo dzBB, Beltajar confirmed that he has ordered RIAS8 to conduct investigation to determine if the operational procedures were followed.

"By the way I have ordered the Regional Internal Affairs Service ng Region 8 to conduct investigation kung nasunod yung police operational procedures doon sa nangyaring operation," Beltajar said.

"Yun yung aming SOP, hiwalay sa investigation ng PNP-CIDG. IAS yung pinacoconduct para huwag mapaghinalaang bias tayo kasi yun naman yung mandato ng IAS na magconduct ng motu propio investigation whenever 'yung mga police operations na ganyan ay may namamatay," he added.

Mayor Espinosa had surrendered to the PNP last August after his name was included in a list of government officials allegedly involved in illegal drugs. 

At the time, he claimed to know some 30 lawmakers and police commanders involved in illegal drugs.

He subsequently left police custody and returned to work, but was arrested last October 5 over illegal drug and weapons charges.

Espinosa is the father of alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, who was arrested in Abu Dhabi last month. Kerwin is in the custody of INTERPOL and is in the process of being deported. 

Espinosa is the second mayor, under the Duterte administration, to be killed after being tagged in the illegal drug trade. On October 28, Datu Saudi Ampatuan Mayor Samsudin Dimaukom was killed along with nine others after an anti-illegal drug operation in Makilala, Cotabato. — with Robert Dejon/Erwin Colcol/John Ted Cordero/KG/VVP, GMA News