Duterte on Espinosa case: I'll never allow cops, troops to go to jail

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said that he would not allow security personnel to go to prison, including those involved in the killing of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa.

"Dito sa Eastern [Visayas], si Albuera mayor, now, there's a case against the police allegedly for murdering him. May I now tell you, the police and the military men here that I will never, never ever allow a policeman or a military man going to prison for doing his duty," he said in his speech during the turnover ceremony of China's military assistance in Angeles, Pampanga.

The statement comes after the Department of Justice downgraded from murder to homicide the criminal charges against dismissed Supt. Marvin Marcos, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Region 8 (CIDG-8) director, and his men over the death of Espinosa.

Duterte has repeatedly said he would pardon security personnel who get into legal trouble over their operations, and made the pronouncement at one other event on Wednesday.

"And for those who are facing charges, they can be very sure that they will walk out free men. Wala kayong problema basta diyan," he said at the 120th founding anniversary of the Presidential Security Group in Malacañang compound.

The DOJ decision has come under fire from the Senate, which adopted the report by the Committee on Public Order finding that the Espinosa killing was premeditated.

Last December, Duterte admitted that he had a hand in blocking the relief of Marcos despite drug links, claiming he wanted the officer to be observed for further evidence. —JST, GMA News