Espinosa father and son ordered arrested

Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. arrives at CIDG, Camp Crame.
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines—A judge in Baybay City in Leyte province on Tuesday ordered the arrest of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa and his son, Kerwin, for drug and firearms possession cases following a raid in their houses in July.

Judge Carlos Arguelles, presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court Branch 14 in Baybay, issued the arrest warrants against the Espinosas and did not recommend bail for their temporary release.

Mayor Espinosa, who had been linked to the illegal drug trade, is under the protective custody of the Albuera police. His son, Kerwin, said to the top drug lord in Eastern Visayas, is a subject of a police manhunt.

READ: Fearful mayor stays with cops after naming son’s drug cohorts

The Espinosas were charged with violation of Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) for possession of “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride) and for violation of RA No. 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) for possession of unlicensed firearms.

In a July 28 raid, policemen recovered packs of shabu and assorted high-powered guns from the house of Mayor Espinosa in the village of Binolho in Albuera.

READ: Mayor’s house yields drugs, guns during raid

Provincial prosecutor Arlene Cordovez said she approved the findings of a special panel created to study the complaints filed against the Espinosas on Sept. 23.

“What we found was there was probable cause for the filing of criminal complaints against the respondents. It seems the judge also found probable cause because he issued a warrant,” she added.

The warrant would be served to Mayor Espinosa Wednesday.