Biliran gov distances self from Parilla killing

Biliran Governor Rogelio J. Espina distanced himself from the murder of former Governor Danilo Parilla on Thursday, denying reports that the alleged gunman, Eugenio Corpin, is a bodyguard of the Espina clan. “Espina is disheartened by a news article…linking the alleged assailant Eugenio Corpirn to him as ‘former bodyguard of the powerful Espina clan’," read a press release issued by the Provincial Information Office of Biliran on Friday. A GMANews.TV article quoted Chief Superintendent Silverio Alarcio, Region 7 police chief, as saying Corpin was a bodyguard of the Espinas who was placed on probation after being accused of participation in a robbery. Former Senator Gerry Espina, father of incumbent Biliran Governor Espina, acknowledged that Corpin had served as a security guard assigned to ground security of the Biliran capitol but that his son, Governor Espina, had dismissed Corpin two years ago. Asked why this happened, Espina said, "You know, Gene has this behavior when he's had a few drinks... lumalabas ang pagkalalaki (he wants to show he is a man)." Distant relatives The elder Espina said his late mother and Corpin's mother were distant relatives. "He belongs to a landed family. His mother stays in the US, and has doctors and lawyers for siblings." Yet it was only in 1994, when he returned to Biliran to run for public office that Espina said he personally got acquainted with Corpin. Espina said that during his radio program this week, he even made reference to the pitfalls of drinking, as Corpin's tussle with Parilla illustrated, but did not identify the parties involved. "I even advised listeners: Don't drink too much... this was what happened to two persons, someone who had served me, and someone who is a brave man," Espina said. PDI report The GMANews.TV article also cited a published newspaper report that linked Corpin to a robbery in 2005 where he and six other supposed bodyguards of the Espina family allegedly robbed a Vietnamese couple. Governor Espina said: “[GMANEWS.TV] must have used [a Philippine Daily Inquirer] article published in March 18 of last year which carried the title ‘Pol bodyguards rob couple in Biliran’, which also alleged that the robbers “were mostly identified as bodyguards of the ruling Espina political family." “I have since denied the allegations which were erroneous and even the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has issued a resolution strongly condemning the erroneous report and also to demand rectification from both writer Dr. Rolando Borrinaga, PDI Visayas Bureau and publisher of the paper," Governor Espina said. Espina said only Corpin was connected with the provincial government, not the seven robbers as reported by PDI. “At the time of the robbery, Corpin’s appointment papers were still being finalized, and he was dropped from the payroll after the incident and was never connected with the provincial government or any of its officials since then," the governor said. Parilla was shot dead in a predawn attack Thursday in Cebu City allegedly by Corpin who was arrested by policemen. Chief Superintendent Alarcio said Parilla mauled Corpin on September 2 at the Naval port when the former governor accused Corpin of involvement in the robbery of the Vietnamese couple. Corpin was arrested last year for the robbery along with Sergio Corpin Azur, Martin Carbo Rocete and Nicomedes Azur, all of Barangay Binohangan, Caibiran; and Elijeo Rocete, Enrico Verotiao and Joseph Demate Piad, all of Villa Vicenta, Caibiran. - GMANews.TV