Cops shelter mayor tagged in drugs

THE FIRST time Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. presented himself to authorities, PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa made the mayor face the media. Espinosa is now sheltered in his town’s police station in a deal he struck with police to spill the beans on his son’s syndicate in exchange for police security. GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

ALBUERA, Leyte—Controversial Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. is now sheltered at the town police station after executing an affidavit, identifying the persons involved in the illegal drug operation of his son, Kerwin, said to be the biggest drug lord in Eastern Visayas.

Espinosa has been staying inside a room beside the office of Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido, Albuera police chief, since Friday for the mayor’s security after Espinosa received threats to his life.

Espenido said he allowed the mayor to stay in the police station because he could see the mayor’s fear.

Chief Supt. Elmer Beltejar, police director for Eastern Visayas, said the mayor would not be given police escort once he steps out of the police station because doing so would violate a directive of President Duterte for police to give no escorts to narcopoliticians.

The mayor had asked Espenido to take him in custody once an arrest warrant is issued against him for drug trafficking and other charges.

Subpoenas

On Aug. 17, Espinosa received a subpoena to answer three complaints filed at the prosecutor’s office in relation to the raid conducted by police on his house on Aug. 10 where at least P88 million worth of drugs were found.

He was given 10 days to submit a counteraffidavit.

On Thursday, the mayor received another subpoena, this time for a complaint for murder filed at the prosecutor’s office of Ormoc City, Leyte.

He was accused of involvement in the ambush of a former police chief of Albuera in May.

Espenido, however, set a condition before allowing Espinosa to stay in his office—execute an affidavit and identify those involved in his son’s drug syndicate.

On Wednesday, Espinosa went to the  provincial prosecutor’s office in San Jose District, Tacloban City, with Beltejar, Espenido and Senior Supt. Franco Simborio, Leyte provincial director.

The mayor was heavily guarded while his head was covered with a piece of cloth when he arrived at the prosecutor’s office past 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

Gold

The affidavit submitted by Espinosa was so voluminous that it took more than three hours just to have it prepared and signed by the mayor and subscribed by Prosecutor Arlene Cordovez.

Espenido described the information revealed by the mayor in the affidavit as “gold” that could be used in filing charges against those involved in Kerwin’s syndicate.

Beltejar declined to give a copy of the affidavit or divulge its contents.

He said Espinosa identified the people who acted as protectors of Kerwin.

While Beltejar refused to name names, he said the list included names of local and national police officers and media men.

One of the police officers has a rank equivalent to a general.

“But for tactical and security reasons, please, I cannot divulge them. But there are new names revealed,” he said.