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Jing-jing feels safer in prison ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA and JOSELITO VILLASIS
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ILOILO City – Two days after policemen raided his house in Barangay Monica-Blumentritt, City Proper for shabu and guns, Barangay Councilman Jesus “Jing-jing” Espinosa Jr. surrendered.
Around 8:30 a.m. yesterday, Espinosa turned himself in to Branch 31 of the Regional Trial Court at the Chief Justice Ramon Q. Avanceña Hall of Justice on Bonifacio Drive.
Espinosa, however, clarified his surrender had nothing to do with the raid. He said this was in connection with his frustrated murder case.
Espinosa ranked No. 2 in the Iloilo City Police Office – Police Station 1’s list of suspected drug personalities in the City Proper.
The Supreme Court ruled with finality Espinosa’s conviction in 2012 yet but his imprisonment was not carried out because the records of his case were misplaced. It was only last month when these were found during an inventory.
In surrendering, Espinosa was accompanied by wife Keith (the barangay captain of Monica-Blumentritt) and their children, Atty. Tranquilino Gale and supporters from their village.
“I-serve ko ang sentence,” Espinosa said.
Espinosa was charged with frustrated murder on Jan. 21, 2003 with two others – Robinito “Bord” Malaga and Cris Rudy Balidiong – for the shooting of Mark Serra, a resident of Barangay Monica-Blumentritt, on Nov. 24, 2002.
Balidiong died during the pendency of the case. On June 20, 2005, the three of them were convicted by the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 31.
Espinosa appealed his conviction. The case reached the Court of Appeals and all the way to the Supreme Court.
Espinosa was given a prison sentence of eight years maximum as accomplice to the crime while Malaga got a maximum prison sentence of 14 years as the principal accused.
Malaga also turned himself in to RTC, Branch 31 yesterday.
In an order dated just this Oct. 4 after the records of the case were found, RTC Branch 31 acting presiding judge Ma. Yolanda Panaguiton-Gaviño ordered “the officials of Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Ungka, Jaro here to personally escort both accused Jesus Espinosa Jr. and Robinito Malaga and that the remittance of said accused be given to BJMP, Ungka, Jaro, Iloilo City.”
Espinosa and Malaga, however, were remitted yesterday to the Iloilo District Jail, a facility managed by the BJMP in Barangay Nanga, Pototan, Iloilo.
It was Judge Rene Hortillo who convicted Espinosa and Malaga in 2005. He retired only recently.
The two were also ordered to pay Serra P30,000 in temperate damages, P25,000 in moral damages and P25,000 in exemplary damages.
Espinosa explained his recent disappearance.
“Gapanago ako indi sa pulis kundi sa mga ginatawag nga vigilante, mga panatiko. Once malapnag ka na sa pulis kag sa PDEA nga drug personality ka, ang ilang tuyo i-eliminate ka gid,” said Espinosa.
He said he had been receiving threats through text messages and calls from unknown texters and callers.
One text message, he said, read: “Halong ka, gwapo ka gale parts… dali na lang inadlaw mo panago ka lang maayo.”
Espinosa believed he would be safer in prison and this was a factor in his decision to surrender.
He also said he was concerned with his family’s safety.
“Gusto ko man magtawhay ang pinsar sang pamilya ko…(In prison) at least ila pinsaron didto lang ako sa sulod, indi sang kun diin-diin nga mabalaka pa sila,” Espinosa said.
Espinosa has six children.
He also claimed there was a negotiation for his surrender on Saturday, a day before the Regional Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Group (RAIDSOG) raided his house early morning on Sunday and recovered firearms and sachets of shabu.
Espinosa said he was not in his house during the raid but declined to say where.
He said he received information that he would be ambushed and this also factored in his decision to surrender.
Regarding the alleged recoveries from his house during the raid, Espinosa said he leaves it to court to evaluate should there be a case that would be filed against him.
As of this writing, the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Group (RAIDTG) that raided Espinosa’s house were still preparing charges against him for illegal gun and illegal drug possession.
He declined to say if he would be filing countercharges against the RAIDTG. His wife claimed the shabu recovered from their house were “planted.”
“Depende kay attorney kun may nalabag sila nga kasuguan. Pero kun wala man lang, ga-respeto gid ako kag gapasalamat ako kay Sir Gallardo…gin-comfort niya man ang akong mga kabataan kay nakita niya nga ginakulbaan,” said Espinosa.
Gallardo is RAIDTG chief, Superintendent Ramil Gallardo.
Espinosa said the safety of his children was his primary concern during the raid.
He, however, declined to issue statements regarding his alleged links to illegal drugs, citing the advice of his lawyer.
But he admitted being close to slain suspected drug lord Melvin “Boyet” Odicta Sr.
“Close ‘ko kay maninoy Boyet. Palangga ko si maninoy, palangga ‘ya man ‘ko,” said Espinosa./PN
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