Duterte won't abandon cops in Espinosa slay

MANILA, Philippines — Despite the National Bureau of Investigation's (NBI) conclusion that Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa was killed in a rubout, President Duterte said he still believes in the claim of the police that the local chief executive died in a shootout.

While promising not to obstruct legal proceedings, Duterte said he would not abandon the law enforcers who were tagged in Espinosa's death.

"The findings of the NBI (stated that it was) murder. Good, file the case. I would say that I believe in the police because we mayors, congressmen, who would they believe? The policemen or the criminals? The suspicions? Whatever the police says, for us, it is the truth," Duterte said during an event of the Urban Poor Solidarity Week in Mandaluyong on Wednesday.

"The NBI said it was murder. The police claimed 'sir he fought.' Why would I sacrifice some policemen there? I told you yesterday there are four million addicts in this country. Who is behind it? And there is one lousy soul, a son of a bitch, you want to favor him?," he added, apparently referring to Espinosa.

Duterte said he would not allow the policemen implicated in Espinosa's death to be jailed.

"I will not allow these guys to go to prison. Bahala sila sabihin ng NBI na murder. E tutal under ko ang NBI, under ko rin 'yang Department of Justice (It's up to the NBI to say it's murder. After all, NBI is under me. The Department of Justice is also under me)," he added.

"But to tell you, I do not interfere. They (NBI) have findings, good. File the case."

Duterte stressed that he was the one who ordered policemen to run after drug personalities so he is answerable for them.

"I told them you have a task. Find them, arrest them, place him under custody. If they resist arrest and they fight and they have weapons and you think your life is in danger, shoot him," the president said.

"I won't abandon these policemen because I was the one who ordered them (to run after drug personalities)."

Espinosa, one of the politicians believed to have ties with illegal drugs syndicates was killed inside his prison cell in Baybay City last November 5.

Members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Eastern Visayas claimed that a shootout ensued after the mayor tried to resist arrest. However, the statements of some jail officers and inmates as well as photos taken on the crime scene indicate that Espinosa may have been executed.

On Tuesday, the NBI announced that Espinosa was killed in a rubout and that there was "criminal intent and a conspiracy" involved in the incident.

Citing statements of inmates, NBI assistant director for Eastern Visayas Rugy de Vera said Espinosa was heard greeting CIDG operatives before pleading for his life. The mayor reportedly asked the policemen not plant anything against him.

The policemen who served the search warrant on Espinosa are now facing murder charges.

Despite his determination to support policemen facing charges related to their work, Duterte is not discounting the possibility that some policemen may not be telling the truth.

"E baka totoo talaga, tinalian ng mga gago (Maybe it's true, these fools really tied the suspect)," the president said.  

He recalled an instance when he had a police as a witness while working on a case.

"Alam mo fiscal ako noon may experience ako sa pulis. Witness ako sa pulis... Ano ginawa mo? (I was a fiscal and I had an experience with a policeman. He was my witness…I asked him what did you do?)," the president said.

"Sabi niya ano sabihin ko? Fiscal yung totoo o sabi-sabi ko? P****g i***g pulis 'yan (He replied 'fiscal, what will I say? The truth or the one I just made up? That son of a b****."