By Bobby G. Nalzaro
I CANNOT understand some people's reactions to the killing of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. inside a jail in Baybay City, Leyte by operatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 8.
When Espinosa was alive, they asked President Rodrigo Duterte's administration why Espinosa was not killed or liquidated when he had confessed that he was into the illegal drug trade with his son, Kerwin, the most notorious drug lord in Eastern Visayas. They said that in Duterte's war against drugs only “minor drug pushers” were killed by the police and through extrajudicial killings. But after Espinosa was killed, some quarters questioned why he was killed when he was already cooperating with the police.
Unsa man gyuy gusto ninyo, buhi o patay nga Espinosa? Even if he was already charged and detained in connection with the illegal drug trade, we cannot expect him to be convicted of those crimes. With his strong connections in the police and the military and local and national politicians, judges, prosecutors and lawyers, we cannot guarantee his conviction.
Kerwin remained free after he served his short jail term. No police unit dared to run after him because everybody in his “areas of distribution” and even national police officials were in his payroll. Not after President Duterte assumed office and launched an all-out and no-nonsense war against illegal drugs that the Espinosa's network was neutralized.
But even then, Kerwin was on the run and even if his mayor-father already surrendered to the police, their network was still operating. If you recall, during the search conducted by the Albuera police led by Chief Insp. Jovy Espinido, volumes of shabu and high-powered firearms were confiscated from the mayor's residence. That only showed that the mayor was still into the illegal drug trade despite his “surrender” and subsequent detention.
Now, you want a “living” Espinosa? Nagtuo kaha mo nga kanang iyang gipanghinganlan makombikto pud na?
The CIDG operatives killed Espinosa inside his cell because he tried to shoot it out with the lawmen. Call that a “bad and old script.” But why don't we give the operatives the “benefit of the doubt” that it was a legitimate operation? There was presumption of regularity in the conduct of the search especially that it was covered with a search warrant.
Some quarters asked why the operatives had to secure a search warrant when the target was a government facility and why the warrant was served in the wee hours of the morning. Well, the CIDG knew beforehand that they cannot force their way to the jail facility if jail officials would not cooperate with them. And there is also that so-called “element of surprise.”
Remember that the Leyte Sub-Provincial Jail is run by the Leyte Provincial Government and a “Governor Petilla” and a “Vice Governor Loreto” is in a list of alleged Kerwin protectors. Who knows that upon the order of provincial officials Espinosa was given special treatment and allowed to sneak in firearms?
Let the Espinosas seek justice for the death of the mayor if they want to but the public should not give weight to this case.
***
Here's a thought from a Leyteño, who requested not be identified, on Espinosa's death:
“Sir, I just want to relay to you some information that I think is worth tackling and pursuing to reveal what is true behind the death of Mayor Espinosa. For your information, CIDG Region 8 is headed by Supt.Melvin Marcos who is a close relative of Lalaine Marcos-Jimenea.
“Ms. Jimenea is in the list of drug protectors of Kerwin Espinosa's group, which was revealed months ago. Ms. Jimenea is also a long-time media publicist of Mayor Richard Gomez and Congresswoman Lucy Torres Gomez. We, the Leyteños, deserve to know the truth behind this. We know that there are still powerful public officials in Ormoc City and in Leyte mentioned in the affidavit of Mayor Espinosa whose names are not yet revealed.
“We hope that with this information you can compel the concerned agencies to reveal the names to the public and shed light on the death of Mayor Espinosa.”
I CANNOT understand some people's reactions to the killing of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. inside a jail in Baybay City, Leyte by operatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 8.
When Espinosa was alive, they asked President Rodrigo Duterte's administration why Espinosa was not killed or liquidated when he had confessed that he was into the illegal drug trade with his son, Kerwin, the most notorious drug lord in Eastern Visayas. They said that in Duterte's war against drugs only “minor drug pushers” were killed by the police and through extrajudicial killings. But after Espinosa was killed, some quarters questioned why he was killed when he was already cooperating with the police.
Unsa man gyuy gusto ninyo, buhi o patay nga Espinosa? Even if he was already charged and detained in connection with the illegal drug trade, we cannot expect him to be convicted of those crimes. With his strong connections in the police and the military and local and national politicians, judges, prosecutors and lawyers, we cannot guarantee his conviction.
Kerwin remained free after he served his short jail term. No police unit dared to run after him because everybody in his “areas of distribution” and even national police officials were in his payroll. Not after President Duterte assumed office and launched an all-out and no-nonsense war against illegal drugs that the Espinosa's network was neutralized.
But even then, Kerwin was on the run and even if his mayor-father already surrendered to the police, their network was still operating. If you recall, during the search conducted by the Albuera police led by Chief Insp. Jovy Espinido, volumes of shabu and high-powered firearms were confiscated from the mayor's residence. That only showed that the mayor was still into the illegal drug trade despite his “surrender” and subsequent detention.
Now, you want a “living” Espinosa? Nagtuo kaha mo nga kanang iyang gipanghinganlan makombikto pud na?
The CIDG operatives killed Espinosa inside his cell because he tried to shoot it out with the lawmen. Call that a “bad and old script.” But why don't we give the operatives the “benefit of the doubt” that it was a legitimate operation? There was presumption of regularity in the conduct of the search especially that it was covered with a search warrant.
Some quarters asked why the operatives had to secure a search warrant when the target was a government facility and why the warrant was served in the wee hours of the morning. Well, the CIDG knew beforehand that they cannot force their way to the jail facility if jail officials would not cooperate with them. And there is also that so-called “element of surprise.”
Remember that the Leyte Sub-Provincial Jail is run by the Leyte Provincial Government and a “Governor Petilla” and a “Vice Governor Loreto” is in a list of alleged Kerwin protectors. Who knows that upon the order of provincial officials Espinosa was given special treatment and allowed to sneak in firearms?
Let the Espinosas seek justice for the death of the mayor if they want to but the public should not give weight to this case.
***
Here's a thought from a Leyteño, who requested not be identified, on Espinosa's death:
“Sir, I just want to relay to you some information that I think is worth tackling and pursuing to reveal what is true behind the death of Mayor Espinosa. For your information, CIDG Region 8 is headed by Supt.Melvin Marcos who is a close relative of Lalaine Marcos-Jimenea.
“Ms. Jimenea is in the list of drug protectors of Kerwin Espinosa's group, which was revealed months ago. Ms. Jimenea is also a long-time media publicist of Mayor Richard Gomez and Congresswoman Lucy Torres Gomez. We, the Leyteños, deserve to know the truth behind this. We know that there are still powerful public officials in Ormoc City and in Leyte mentioned in the affidavit of Mayor Espinosa whose names are not yet revealed.
“We hope that with this information you can compel the concerned agencies to reveal the names to the public and shed light on the death of Mayor Espinosa.”
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