More deaths seen with CIDG exec’s reinstatement

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Panfilo Lacson warned yesterday the reinstatement of Superintendent Marvin Marcos and other police officials involved in the killing of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. could lead to retractions of statements of witnesses and more deaths.

Lacson said the move could jeopardize ongoing investigations into the case, as he continued his criticism of President Duterte’s order for Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa to reinstate Marcos and other police officers involved in the killing of Espinosa last Nov. 5.

Espinosa, who was tagged by Duterte as one of the top drug lords in the Visayas, was killed before dawn in his jail cell in Baybay, Leyte by 17 policemen led by Marcos, then chief of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Region 8, after the mayor allegedly fired at the CIDG team.

Lacson said releasing these policemen from restrictive custody and allowing them to return to Leyte, ostensibly to allow them to secure documents for their defense and be close to their families, was incomprehensible.

He said Dela Rosa should have explained to Duterte the need to place Marcos and his men under custody after Espinosa’s son – Rolando Jr. or Kerwin – told investigators in Abu Dhabi that the officer was on his payroll.

The reinstatement led to the mayor’s death, he said. 

“What’s surprising is that the restrictive custody was lifted and they were allowed to go back to Leyte. For me, that’s a bit unforgivable,” Lacson said.

“That’s hard to understand because the witnesses who are helpless – some 20 or so have executed affidavits, from jail guards to inmates. What if they’re raided again?” he said.

Lacson said choosing between the entire PNP and one officer was a no-brainer.

He also warned Duterte’s micro-managing the drug war has both good and bad effects.

While paying personal attention to the campaign will put the PNP and other law enforcement agencies on their toes, it could also divert Duterte’s attention from equally pressing issues like the economy and the dispute over the South China Sea.