High court joins probe of mayor’s slay

DEATH IN JAIL The youngest daughter of slain Mayor Rolando Espinosa, Chesney, wails upon seeing her father’s body as it was being brought out of the Baybay jail where hewas killed bymembers of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group purportedly during a shootout. —ROBERT DEJON

The Supreme Court will conduct its own investigation of the killing of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. and another inmate, focusing on the judge and the search warrants he issued, which the police had used to enter the men’s jail cells, the court’s spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Questions have been raised, including by some lawmakers, on why a search warrant had to be served on the two men already held in jail, and in the wee hours of the morning.

“The Supreme Court has ordered an investigation into the circumstance relative to the purported issuance of the search warrant directed to the CIDG that led to the death in custody of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa,” said the court’s spokesperson, Theodore Te.

Te told reporters the court had yet to lay down the parameters of the probe.

Members of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) killed Espinosa and an inmate, Raul Yap, in what the police said was a shootout between officers and the two men inside the Baybay City subprovincial jail on Saturday.

Police custody

Espinosa was held on illegal drugs and firearms charges after police seized at least 11.5 kilograms of “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride) and several firearms and ammunition from his house.

The mayor had sought protective custody for fear of his life after he and his son, Kerwin, were tagged as among the  biggest drug lords in Eastern Visayas.

The CIDG said officers obtained the search warrants from Judge Tarcelo Sabarre of the Regional Trial Court Branch 30 of Basey, Samar, against Espinosa for violating Republic Act No. 10591, or the firearms law, and against Yap for violating RA 9165, or the dangerous drugs law.

Police said they recovered handguns from both men and suspected “shabu” from Yap.

PNP Director General Ronald dela Rosa on Tuesday assured the safety of high-profile drug personalities who would surrender and he offered his personal protection to the mayor’s son, who is currently in detention in the United Arab Emirates.

“He (Kerwin) should not worry. I will guard him even if I have to do it myself. Nothing will happen to him,” he said.

Leo Angelo Leuterio, acting chief of the PNP Internal Affairs Service, has said the IAS investigation would be “impartial and independent.”

Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno said he has also ordered the National Police Commission to conduct its own investigation and make it a “top priority.”

Senate inquiry

The Senate committee on public order and illegal drugs headed by Sen. Panfilo Lacson is set to open on Thursday its probe of the killings of Espinosa and Datu Saudi Ampatuan Mayor Samsudin Dimaukom, who was also identified as a drug lord.

Lacson has invited the police team that raided the jail, jail guards, warden and Leyte Gov. Leopoldo Dominic Petilla.

In a report to Sueno, the IAS said 19 policemen, including the designated supervisor, Supt. Santi Noel Matira, and the team leader, Chief Insp. Leo Laraga, are under investigation for their involvement in the jail raid.

The other CIDG personnel undergoing investigation were identified as assistant team leaders Senior Insp. Deogracias Diaz III and Senior Insp. Fritz Blanco; and team members SPO4 Juanito Duarte, SPO4 Melvin Cayobit, SPO2 Benjamin Dacallos, SPO2 Alphinor Serrano Jr., PO3 Jhonny Ibanez, PO3 Norman Abellanosa, PO1 Bernard Orpilla, PO1 Lloyd Ortiguesa, and PO1 Jerlan Cabiyaan.

Also being investigated are six members of the Regional Maritime Group 8 who were support members of the CIDG operations team led by Chief Insp. Calixto C. Canillas, team leader; Senior Insp. Lucrecito Candilosas, assistant team leader; and team members SPO2 Antonio Docil, SPO1 Mark Christian Cadilo, PO2 Jhon Ruel Ducolan, and PO2 Jaime Bacsal. —WITH REPORTS FROM CHRISTINE AVENDAÑO, JEROME ANING, TARRA QUIZMUNDO AND JEANNETTE ANDRADE