[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’Duterte vows anew to pardon, promote cops in Espinosa slay’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=”]
Sunday, April 2, 2017
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said that he will pardon and promote the policemen who killed former Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.
Espinosa was shot dead inside his jail cell in Baybay City on Nov. 5, 2016.
Duterte claimed that many mayors are involved in the illegal drug trade, and he believes that Espinosa was among them.
“Shabu, itong mga mayor, they are into it and in two months’ time, they are millionaires,” he said.
While the policemen who were involved in Espinosa’s killing were charged with murder, Duterte said that he is willing to grant them pardon, reinstate them in the Philippine National Police, and promote them to a higher rank.
“Sabi ko nga publicly, hindi ako nakikialam. ‘Yung pulis na nakademanda, pinatay nila si Albuera mayor. Wala akong ano. It was Aguirre who filed the murder charges. Hindi ako nakikialam,” Duterte said.
Duterte said the cops were merely following orders to eradicate drug personalities.
“Itong pulis, hindi ko rin pwede iwanan. Hidi ko talaga pwede iwanan. Baka nga talaga sinunod yung utos ko,” he said.
The president said that he will grant the policemen pardon, reinstating their civil and political rights, if they are found guilty of Espinosa’s murder.
Duterte said that under the Constitution, he has the express power to do so.
“The Constitution says the president can pardon, either conditional or absolute, a convicted criminal or grant amnesty with the concurrence of Congress,” he said.
Standing trial for Espinosa’s killing are Supt. Marvin Marcos; Supt. Noel Matira, Chief Inspector Leo Laraga; SPO4 Melvin Cayobit; PO3 Johnny Ibañez; Senior Inspector Deogacias Diaz III; SPO2 Benjamin Dacallos; PO3 Norman Abellanosa; PO1 Jerlan Cabiyaan; Chief Inspector Calixto Canillas, Jr.; Senior Inspector Lucrecito Candilosas; SPO2 Antonio Docil; SPO1 Mark Christian Cadilo; PO2 Jhon Ruel Doculan; and PO2 Jaime Bacsal.
Indicted for a separate count of murder for the killing of Raul Yap, Espinosa’s cellmate, are Marcos; Diaz; Dacallos; Abellanosa; Cabiyaan; Canillas; Candilosas; Cadillo; Doculan; Bacsal; SPO4 Juanito Duarte; PO1 Lloyd Ortigueza; Senior Inspector Fritz Blanco; PO1 Bhernard Orpilla; and SPO2 Antonio Docil. (ABS-CBN News)
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
