PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa. JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” De la Rosa is set to hold a press conference 3 p.m. at Camp Crame after Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. surrendered to the police chief early Tuesday morning.
PNP spokesperson Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos, however, remained tight-lipped about the details of Espinosa’s meeting with De la Rosa at Camp Crame.
Malacañang earlier confirmed that Espinosa has surrendered to the authorities and is now under custody of De la Rosa. His son Kerwin is still at large.
“If they resist and place the public and the lives of our peace officers in danger, then the PNP will (have to) defend themselves to protect the public,” it added.
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday demanded the Espinosas to surrender to the authorities within 24 hours for their alleged involvement in drug trafficking.
READ: Duterte to Leyte mayor, son: Surrender or ‘die’
An order of “shoot on sight” will be given if they resist and endanger the lives of arresting police officers, the President said.
Right after Duterte’s call for the Espinosas to surrender, the PNP said it will “apply Oplan Tokhang” first and visit Leyte town Mayor Espinosa and his son in their residence to convince them to surrender before the 24-hour deadline Duterte had given them expires.
Eastern Visayas Police regional director Chief Supt. Elmer Beltejar, on the other hand, confirmed that the mayor’s son is one of the drug suspects considered as “high-value targets” of the police.
Beltejar also revealed that Kerwin was known to have been involved in illegal drug activities but because of his father’s “protection,” he always managed to elude arrest.
Last Thursday, two bodyguards and three employees of Mayor Espinosa were arrested during a buy-bust operation where the police seized at least P1.9 million worth of shabu.
READ: Bodyguards of Leyte town mayor held for drugs
Four other suspects managed to escape after they sought refuge in the house of Kerwin Espinosa./rga