Espinosa seeks police protection after ambush

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – Mayor Rolando Espinosa of Albuera, Leyte yesterday sought assistance from the provincial police following the killing of his lawyer last Tuesday.

Unidentified men shot dead lawyer Rogelio Bato Jr., 48, and his 15-year-old female companion in Barangay 96 Sagkahan District, Tacloban City.

The gunmen sprayed the victims’ car with gunfire from an M16 rifle and a caliber .45 pistol. Both died at the scene from multiple wounds.

Espinosa refused to comment on the ambush. He again vowed to cooperate with authorities and provide more information on the drug trafficking operations of his son Kerwin, who is at large.

Members of the Albuera police brought Espinosa and his family members to the provincial police headquarters here.

The National Police Commission recently removed the authority of Espinosa to supervise the local police.

The mayor denied anew that he was involved in the illegal drug trade and insisted that only his son was engaged in drug trafficking.

Chief Insp. Jovie Espinido, Albuera police chief, accompanied Espinosa to the provincial headquarters and disclosed that the mayor will identify the police officers and other top government officials linked to illegal drugs.

Espinido said they would meet the provincial prosecutor of Leyte to inquire if Mayor Espinosa could qualify to apply as a state witness against the illegal drug operations of his son and his cohorts.

“It is now in the hands of the DOJ (Department of Justice) officials whether Mayor Espinosa’s confession could make him qualify as state witness. We are here to assist and secure him,” said Espinido.

Leyte police director Senior Supt. Franco Simborio was not in his office and Espinido later accompanied Espinosa and his relatives to the PNP Region 8 Office headquarters in Palo, Leyte and met acting regional police director Chief Supt. Elmer Beltejar.

Espinosa’s daughter Mariel said they are no longer safe and their lives are in danger now that their lawyer was killed and they fear that her father and his relatives could be the next target for liquidation.

Mariel also admitted that her brother Kerwin, now in hiding, is the only one linked to illegal drugs in their family.

Beltejar condemned the killing of Espinosa’s lawyer and ordered a thorough investigation and immediate arrest of the killers.

He said that the slain lawyer was in the list of high-value targets of the PNP and in the illegal drugs watch list.