Vice President Leni Robredo. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON
Vice President Leni Robredo expressed alarm over the death of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. during a police raid inside his cell, saying the “unlawful” search raises questions on the integrity of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Albuerra, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa. May God be with you in these trying times,” Robredo said in a statement on Monday.
“In light of this, we are alarmed by the recent events that led to the death of Mayor Espinosa,” she said.
“Given the peculiar context, this killing raises a lot questions on the official accounts of CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group),” Robredo said.
The implementation of the search warrants against Espinosa and fellow inmate Raul Yap at the Baybay sub-provincial jail was led by PNP CIDG and regional maritime unit members.
The raid in search for illegal drugs and firearms happened in the wee hours of Saturday morning inside their cell. The official report from the PNP said Espinosa and Yap died after fighting back with the operatives.
“The unlawful event even puts into question the integrity of the institution. Thus, we ask: who will police the police?”
The vice president then called for a fair investigation of the incident, asking the PNP to ensure that no whitewash will happen.
“We call for the investigation to be thorough, fair, and swift, and to ensure that no whitewash will happen,” she said.
READ: After Espinosa slay, PNP open for reinvestigation of EJK
“We cannot afford the further erosion of our people’s trust in our justice system if those who take the law into their own hands are not found and prosecuted,” she said.
Robredo, a former human rights lawyer, said she hopes that the politician’s killing is not an indication that the Philippine government is failing to protect the rights of its people.
“We hope that this is not an indication of a nation failing to uphold the rule of law and a sovereign unable to protect its own citizens. We need to reinforce the trust of the people in our judicial system,” she said. JE/rga
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