Duterte says may pardon, reinstate and promote cops in Espinosa killing

President Rodrigo Duterte has said that he may pardon and even reinstate and promote policemen slapped with murder charges over the killing of Albuera mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. last year.

"Maconvict? Ay walang problema. Magsibasa ng 'you are hereby sentenced to.' Ah, tatawag niyan, 'Sir convicted kami.' 'Sabihin mo sa judge sandali lang.' Pardon O, bigay mo sa judge. Ipabasa mo sa judge. O pardon pala kayo lahat. O, restored to full and political, civil rights and reinstated order with the promotion one rank higher..." Duterte said during his speech at Digong's Day for Women on Friday.

Duterte made the remarks after mentioning his speech the filing of murder charges against former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Region 8 (CIDG-8) director Superintendent Marvin Marcos and 18 other policemen for allegedly conspiring to eliminate Espinosa.

Espinosa and another drug suspect were killed by CIDG-8 policemen inside his prison cell at the Baybay City Sub-Provincial Jail on Nov. 5, 2016.

Marcos and the other policemen had been detained at the CIDG-8 custodial facility following the issuance of arrest warrants against them.

"Sige kako. Tutal we will legally follow. Legal 'yung pag-file ni Secretary Aguirre. Hindi ko pinakialaman. Sige. Ni hindi ko tinanong. Ni hindi ko… classmate kami. Kilala nila ako. Ni minsan... hindi ko sakit iyan. Pero when I will say I will help, meron rin akong gagamitin. Nagamit man niya yung libro. Gagamit din ako ng Constitution," he added.

The President said that he cannot abandon the policemen because they might be just following his orders.

"Itong pulis ngayon nasabit hindi ko rin pwedeng iwanan, hindi ko talaga pwedeng iwanan. Kasi baka nga talaga sinunod 'yung utos ko..." Duterte said.

Duterte noted that he "can pardon either conditional or absolute a convicted criminal or grant amnesty with the concurrence of Congress."

Baybay Regional Trial Court Judge Carlos Arguelles ordered on March 16 the arrest of Marcos and 18 others for multiple murder, robbery, malicious procurement of search warrant, perjury and planting of evidence under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

The Senate had adopted a committee report concluding that the killing of Espinosa was "premeditated." Meanwhile, the NBI's parallel probe showed that the killing was a result of a rubout by Leyte cops.

Malacañang had clarified that Duterte's readiness to pardon erring police officers was not a "blanket condonation" of their acts as they will still undergo the due process of the law. —ALG, GMA News