19 cops involved in Mayor Espinosa’s killing to face administrative charges

Nineteen police officers who served search warrants at the Leyte Sub-Provincial Jail which led to the death of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. and another inmate will be facing administrative charges.

“At this point, we believe that we will be levying for administrative complaints for operatives involved both from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Region 8 and Regional Maritime Unit,” Internal Affairs Service (IAS) deputy inspector general Chief Supt. Leo Angelo Leuterio said in an interview aired on Unang Balita.

“We will be levying administrative case for them for grave misconduct so if they are found guilty or culpable of this violation, they can be dismissed from the service,” Leuterio added.

Thirteen of the police officers are members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Region 8 and the other six are members of the Philippine National Police Maritime Group.

Leuterio said the involved officers were asked to submit their affidavits before the Regional IAS 8, which is conducting the investigation.

“In the interest of due process, they are now being asked to submit their affidavits to us, RIAS 8, hinihintay namin yun,” he said.

He said RIAS 8 is now on the pre-charged investigation of the case.

“Pagkatapos niyan, formal hearings will be conducted,” he said.

Leuterio, meanwhile, said that jail guards at the sub-provincial jail have expressed readiness to testify on the incident.

Members of the CIDG Region 8, headed by Chief Inspector Leo Laraga, killed Espinosa and drug suspect Raul Yap during the implementation of search warrants against the two inmates around 4 a.m. Saturday.

The Department of Interior and Local Government released Tuesday the names of the 19 police officers involved.

The 13 members of CIDG Region 8 were:

• Superintendent Santi Noel G. Matira, Designated Supervisor
• Chief Inspector Leo D. Laraga, Team Leader
• Senior Inspector Deogracias Diaz III, Assistant Team Leader
• Senior Inspector Fritz Blanco, Assistant Team Leader
• Senior Police Officer 4 Juanito Duarte
• Senior Police Officer 4 Melvin Cayobit
• Senior Police Officer 2 Benjamin Dacallos
• Senior Police Officer 2 Alphinor Serrano Jr.
• Police Officer 3 Jhonny Ibanez
• Police Officer 3 Norman Abellanosa
• Police Officer 1 Bernard Orpilla
• Police Officer 1 Lloyd Ortiguesa
• Police Officer 1 Jerlan Cabiyaan

The six members of Region 8 Maritime Unit were:

• Chief Inspector Calixto C. Canillas, Team Leader
• Senior Inspector Lucrecito A. Candilosas, Assistant Team Leader
• Senior Police Officer 2 Antonio R. Docil
• Senior Police Officer 1 Mark Christian C. Cadilo
• Police Officer 2 Jhon Ruel Ducolan
• Police Officer 2 Jaime P. Bacsal

—Amita Legaspi/ALG GMA News