Jail guard of Rolando Espinosa’s cell said cops ordered him to kneel down, face the wall

A jail guard recalled being told to kneel down and face the wall by the policemen who served a search warrant to former Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa inside his cell in the Baybay City Provincial Jail in 2016.

Julito Retana told the House of Representatives Quad Committee on Tuesday that he tried to check the search warrant to be served to the late mayor.

“Actually, hiningan ko sila ng search warrant para basahin ko. Pero hindi naman po binigay sa akin,” he said.

(Actually, I asked for the search warrant so I can check it. But they did not show it to me.)

The jail guard said the operatives from the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group had firearms with them.

“Hindi po nakatutok, pero pinaluhod kami,” said Retana when asked by Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Keith Flores if the cops threatened him and his fellow guards with their guns.

(They did not point the guns at us, but they told us to kneel down.)

Although the jail guards also had firearms, the said policemen confiscated them.

“Mayroon din po pero kinuha nila, kinapkapan kami, kinuha rin nila yung mga cellphone namin,” said Retana.

(We had our guns with us but they confiscated them. They searched our bodies and they also took our cellphones.)

Flores asked Retana if they tried to retaliate against the cops, but the latter admitted that they were outnumbered at the time.

“Kaunti lang po kami,” the jail guard said.

(We’re only a few at that time.)

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.

Meanwhile, Donald “Don-Don” Palermo, a prisoner in another cell, shared that he heard Espinosa begging the cops to spare his life.

“Ang sinabi ni Mayor, ‘Sir, maawa kayo, sir. Kahit patalim wala ako niyan dito sa loob,’” he told the QuadComm, adding that he heard two gunshots from Espinosa’s cell.

(The mayor said, ‘Sir, please have mercy on me, sir. I don’t have any sharp objects here.’)

“Sabi pa ni Mayor Espinosa, ‘Maihi muna ako, Sir.’ Sabi naman ng nandoon na pulis, Huwag ka na maihi.’ Tapos ayun na sabay yung dalawang putok. Pagkatapos ng dalawang putok, nagsabi siya ng ‘lumaban, lumaban.’”

(Mayor Espinosa also said, ‘I need to pee, Sir.’ But the police said ‘You don’t have to do that.’ Then there were two gunshots. After that, I heard, ‘he’s still fighting.’)

The late Albuera mayor’s son, Kerwin Espinosa, earlier said he believes that former president Rodrigo Duterte ordered his father killed. —RF, GMA Integrated News