P88M worth of shabu, bomb parts seized from Leyte mayor’s house

The upscale house of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. has become the site of bloodshed as police raid the residence on Aug. 3, 2016. Mayor Espinosa and his son, Kerwin, have been accused of running drug manufacturing and trafficking operatons in the Visayas. Photo by ROBERT DEJON/INQUIRER VISAYAS

At least 11 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” worth P88 million and bomb parts were seized by the police in the house of Albuera, Leyte mayor Ronald Espinosa Sr. on Wednesday morning, Radyo Inquirer reported.

Teams from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Albuera police searched Espinosa’s house at Sitio Tinago Dos, Barangay (village) Benoldo in the said town at around 5 a.m.

Albuera Police Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido said that the information about the shabu and bomb parts were from Espinosa’s men who were caught in previous police operations.

READ: 2 guards tie mayor to son’s drug deals

Espenido also said that the teams found ammonium nitrate, blasting caps, firing wires and black powder inside the house.

Last July 28, police arrested five of Espinosa’s men in a buy-bust operation with P1.9 million worth of shabu.

Then on Aug. 1, President Rodrigo Duterte gave Espinosa and his son Kerwin 24 hours to surrender over their alleged involvement in drug-trafficking and coddling.

READ: Shoot order scares Leyte mayor

Espinosa surrendered to PNP Chief Dir. Gen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa a day after the President issued his warning and was allowed to stay at the “White House” in Camp Crame.

However, the mayor left Camp Crame after his son failed to surrender to authorities.

Espinosa is said to be confined in a hospital in Cebu City. With a report from Ruel Perez, Radyo Inquirer/AJH/IDL

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