Ombudsman orders fact-finding probe on Espinosa’s death

The Office of the Ombudsman has called for a fact-finding investigation into the killing of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa following an alleged shootout with police officers inside his cell last November 5.

The fact-finding probe on Espinosa’s death will be handled by the Deputy Ombudsman for Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices, the Office of the Ombudsman told GMA News.

The investigation is expected to take some time since it will involve gathering pieces of evidence and interviewing people who could provide information about the mayor’s death.

Espinosa was killed in an alleged shootout inside his prison cell at the Baybay City sub-provincial jail on the wee hours of November 5 by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Region 8.

He is the father of Kerwin Espinosa, a suspected drug lord.

The Senate is conducting its own investigation on Espinosa’s death while some lawmakers in the House of Representatives have sought the conduct of an inquiry on the matter.

Also killed in the alleged shootout was drug suspect Raul Yap. — Xianne Arcangel/RSJ, GMA News