Bato orders ‘impartial, independent’ probes into Mayor Espinosa’s killing

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa on Saturday assured the public that there will be no whitewash in the police's investigations into the killing of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa inside a detention facility.

Dela Rosa, who was in Las Vegas to watch Sen. Manny Pacquiao's fight, said he immediately ordered "impartial and independent" investigations after receiving initial information on the killing of Espinosa during an alleged shootout with operatives of the provnicial unit of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Northern Leyte.

Espinosa and another drug suspect were killed by the CIDG operatives during an alleged shootout, which happened as the policemen were serving search warrants inside the Baybay, Leyte Sub-Provincial Jail shortly after 4 a.m.

Dela Rosa said he ordered the CIDG's mother unit based in Camp Crame, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 8 and the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) to conduct independent investigations.

He said the CIDG-Northern Leyte team, led by Chief Inspector Leo Laraga, will be the subject of the investigation.

"Gusto kong malaman ang katotohanan... We will conduct a proper investigation. 'Wag po kayong mag-alala, ang taumbayan. Kung kayo ay nangangamba na magkaroon ng whitewash ang investigation, kahit CIDG ang kasama sa [iimbestigahan], ito po ay CIDG ng national headquarters, PRO 8 at IAS ang [magsasagawa ng imbestigasyon]," the PNP chief said in a Balitanghali interview.

"Sisiguraduhin natin na malinis, na impartial investigation," he added.

Silence Kerwin

He said the investigators will look into rumors that Mayor Espinosa was killed to discourage his son, Kerwin Espinosa, to testify against police officials who allegedly received drug and gambling money.

"Sana si Kerwin pag-uwi dito 'di na siya matakot at ituloy niyang isiwalat lahat ang inisyal na testimonya na ibinigay niya sa mga investigators, ay tatayuan niya iyon... very crucial ang kanyang mga statement," he said.

Dela Rosa also said that allegations that involvement by certain officials of the CIDG in PRO 8 in Kerwin's operation will also be included in the investigation.

Kerwin's drug source also killed in jail

The PNP chief said he will also order the police investigators to look into the possible connection between the killing of Mayor Espinosa and Edgar Allan Alvarez, an alleged drug source of Kerwin.

"Isasama natin sa investigation iyan. Tingnan natin kung the same persons ang involved sa pagkamatay ni Espinosa at Alvarez," Dela Rosa said.

Alvarez was also killed by policemen last August during an alleged raid inside the Leyte Regional Penitentiary in Abuyog town.

Police claimed that Alvarez lobbed a grenade at the raiding team, but it failed to explode. He then allegedly drew a gun and fired at the raiding team. —ALG, GMA News