Trillanes sees Duterte hand in downgrade of raps vs. Espinosa slay cops

The downgrading of criminal charges against the cops involved in the death of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa was ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte himself, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV claimed Thursday. 

“Ako naniniwala na utos ito ni President Duterte mismo,” Trillanes said in a press briefing, recalling Duterte’s earlier pronouncements that he may pardon and reinstate the cops led by Supt. Marvin Marcos.

“Ito yung inaarbor ni President Duterte simula’t sapul na sinasabi niyang sasagutin niya,” Trillanes said.

Trillanes, a staunch critic of the President, also noted Duterte's previous admission that he had ordered PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to reinstate Marcos, despite the Leyte cop’s alleged involvement in illegal drugs.

Duterte said then that he only wanted to “keep track of his movements.”

In April, Duterte said he might pardon, and even reinstate and promote the cops involved in Espinosa’s death.

Marcos, former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Region 8 (CIDG-8) director, and his men were originally slapped with murder charges for allegedly conspiring to eliminate Espinosa.

Last week, they were able to walk out of detention on bail, following the Department of Justices’s (DOJ) order to downgrade the charges to homicide.

“Pinahupa lang yung balita tapos bigla na lang binaba [yung kaso] hoping na hindi na mapapansin. Ako, this is consistent dun sa utos ni President Duterte kaya malalim itong kaso na 'to,” Trillanes said.

“Foot soldiers lang naman ito eh. Si [DOJ] Secretary [Vitaliano] Aguirre hindi niya ‘yan gagawin ng walang utos sa kanya,” he said.

Several senators have expressed disappointment over the DOJ’s decision, with Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III calling for the reopening of the probe on Espinosa’s death.

The minority bloc is set to file a resolution denouncing the downgrade of charges, while at least one member, Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, has filed a separate resolution seeking Aguirre’s explanation about it.

Trillanes agrees that Aguirre should be summoned to explain his department’s decision.

“Kailangan siya pagpaliwanagin kung bakit siya mismo ay bumaliktad kasi base dito, nag-a-agree siya (Aguirre) sa committee findings na premeditated so therefore murder,” Trillanes said. — MDM/GMA News