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By ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. was gunned down while inside a cell after allegedly opening fire on police officers on Saturday morning at the Baybay City Provincial Jail in Baybay, Leyte.
Aside from Espinosa Sr., father of Eastern Visayas drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, also killed in the incident was inmate Raul Yap, who was detained next to the cell of Espinosa.
In a statement from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Region 8, the incident occurred at around 4 a.m. when they served a search warrant to Espinosa and Yap.
The search warrant was implemented after receiving reports of illegal drug trade transactions being conducted by Yap inside the sub-provincial jail in Baybay, Leyte. Espinosa was also subjected to the search for keeping a gun inside his cell.
“Silang dalawa ang nagpaputok sa operatiba natin at napilitan po yung mga operatiba natin na gumanti at ito po yung nagresulta na ikinamatay ng mga suspek,” said CIDG Region 8’s Supt. Melvin Marcos.
“Gaya po siguro ng mga droga, kung maipapasok ang mga droga sa loob po ng jail or Bilibid eh ganun din siguro ang proseso gaya ng pagpasok ng cellphone kung ganun lang po kadali yun hindi po imposible na yung baril maipasok din lalo din lagi dinedeklara ni mayor na under threat siya,” he said.
Espinosa has been detained at the Baybay City Provincial Jail since August for possession of illegal drugs and the illegal ownership of unlicensed firearms at his home in Albuera, Leyte.
Espinosa recently surrendered to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa after a “shoot-on-sight” order was directed against him by President Rodrigo Duterte for allegedly coddling the illegal drug trade of his son Kerwin.
Espinosa has publicly denied his involvement in the illegal drug trade. The Albuera, Leyte mayor also denied coddling the business of his son, who reportedly got his supplies from Peter Co and a group from the Abuyog Penitentiary./PN
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