Arrest warrant out vs. Supt. Marcos, 18 others for Mayor Espinosa slay —PNP chief

A court has issued a warrant of arrest against Supt. Marvin Marcos and 18 other police officers involved in the death of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.

This was divulged Monday morning by Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa.

He said they received the arrest warrant over the weekend.

"Lumabas na ang warrant of arrest for murder. (Nineteen) lahat sila accounted na sa CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) Region 8," he said in a press conference.

"Ire-return ang warrant. Bahala na ang court kung saan sila ikukulong. Itong weekend lumabas ang warrant," he added.

Two warrants of arrest were issued by Baybay Regional Trial Court Branch 14 Presiding Judge Carlos O. Arguelles on March 16, 2017.

Aside from Marcos, others named in the warrant were:

1. Supt. Santi Noel Matira
2. Chief Insp. Leo Laraga
3. SPO4 Melvin Cayobit
4. PO3 Johnny Ibañez
5. Senior Insp. Deogracias Diaz III
6. SPO2 Benjamin Dacallos
7. PO3 Norman Abellanosa
8. PO1 Jerlan Cabiyaan
9. PO1 Calixto Canillas Jr.
10. Insp. Lucrecito Canolosas
11. SPO2 Antonio Docil
12. SPO1 Mark Christian Cadilo
13. PO2 Jhon Ruel Doculan
14. PO2 Jaime Bacsal
15. SPO4 Juanito Duarte
16. P01 Lloyd Ortigueza
17. Senior Insp. Fritz Blanco, and
18. PO1 Bhernard Orpilla.

The CIDG Region 8 is completing the booking procedure on the 19 police officers as of 3:26 p.m. on Monday.

Chief Supt. Elmer Beltejar, Region 8 provincial director, said upon completion of the booking procedure, which includes fingerprinting, documentation, mugshot and medical examination, the warrants of arrest will be returned to the RTC Branch 14, and a corresponding commitment order is expected to be issued by the Court for the custody of the respondents.

NBI unaware of arrest warrants

Sought for comment, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) spokesman Ferdinand Lavin said they were not aware that arrest warrants were already issued against those involved in the crime.

"Honestly 'di ako aware sa warrant na nilabas but still we're satisfied dahil nagbunga ang aming imbestigasyon," Lavin said on the sidelines of a press briefing organized by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) in Manila.

The preliminary investigation conducted from late December to February this year by the Department of Justice (DOJ) was based on the complaints filed by the NBI with Espinosa's son, Kerwin, as private complainant.

The complaints include multiple murder, robbery, malicious procurement of search warrant, perjury and planting of evidence under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa and drug suspect Raul Yap were killed in an alleged shootout inside the Baybay City Provincial Jail on November 5, 2016.

Operatives of the CIDG Region 8 were at the jail to serve search warrants on the two detainees for separate cases when the latter allegedly fired at the cops and a shootout ensued, PNP Regional Director Elmer Beltejar earlier said. — with Virgil Lopez/KG/RSJ, GMA News