Solon: All signs of summary killings present in Espinosa slay

All the "signs" of extrajudicial killing seemed to be present in the death of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa.

This was the take of Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop on the killing of Espinosa inside his detention cell in Leyte on Saturday during what authorities claimed was a legitimate shootout with the mayor.

"From the reports that I have heard and read, all the signs of a summary killing are there, unless all the issues or questionable actions on the part of the operating officers would be answered by them appropriately," said Acop in a media briefing on Monday.

Acop is the chair of the House committee on public order and safety which deals with matters directly and principally relating to the Philippine National Police, the suppression of criminality, and civil defense, among others.

Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Region 8 were at the jail to serve search warrants on Espinosa and drug suspect Raul Yap for separate cases when both detainees reportedly fired at the cops and a shootout ensued. 

The cops were about to serve a search warrant on Espinosa for violation of Republic Act No. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. 

Espinosa had been arrested for drug-related charges.

The CIDG was also going to serve a search warrant on Yap for charges related to violation of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

The search warrants were issued by Judge Tarcelo Sabarre Jr. of the Regional Trial Court Branch 30 in Basey, Samar.

While all "signs" point to a summary execution, Acop said he still has to hear the side of the CIDG men who served the warrant on Espinosa.

"So as of now I am waiting... I have already asked the PNP to submit their initial report in so far as the incident is concerned," said Acop.

The lawyer of Espinosa, Lannie Villarino, earlier said an autopsy on her client's body showed he was shot four times, sustaining four entry wounds and one exit wound.

Saying the death was the result of an "overkill," the lawyer said the autopsy report also showed Espinosa was already on the ground when he was shot. A graze wound was also found on his head. 

The lawyer suspected that her client's revelations in two affidavits he earlier executed led to his eventual killing. 

Lacson earlier said he "smelled extrajudicial killing" in the death of Espinosa.

Sen. Richard Gordon meanwhile called for a new and separate Senate probe on the matter. 

The CIDG Region is already investigating the alleged shootout, assisted by a CIDG team from the PNP headquarters at Camp Crame. 

The National Bureau of Investigation has already stepped in to conduct a parallel probe, upon orders from Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II. —KG, GMA News