Mayor Espinosa to be buried in December –family spokesperson

The late Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa is likely to be buried in December when all his siblings have arrived from overseas, the family's spokesperson said Monday.

Emma Espinosa said the family is still waiting for the arrival of Espinosa's three sisters and mother, who are all based abroad.

Emma said one of Espinosa's siblings will be arriving late due to a scheduled wedding on November 20.

The family spokesperson added Espinosa would be buried in a private cemetery in Ormoc City instead of in Cebu since the mayor is a Leyte native. His remains will also lie in state at the Albuera municipal hall in December.

Emma said the family is unsure if Espinosa's son, suspected drug lord Kerwin, would be allowed to visit his father when he returns from Abu Dhabi where he was arrested last month.

The elder Espinosa was shot dead in his jail cell on November 5 at the Baybay City sub-provincial jail by operatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Region 8.

The CIDG was about to serve a search warrant against Espinosa for illegal possession of firearms when he allegedly opened fire at the authorities. The Senate committee on justice is currently conducting a probe on the incident.

A separate probe is also being conducted by the National Police Commission, the Police's Internal Affairs Service, and the National Bureau of Investigation. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/KBK, GMA News