Espinosa facing murder charges

ORMOC CITY, Philippines – Alleged “narco mayor” Rolando Espinosa of Albuera, Leyte is facing another charge for the murder of a retired police officer.

The City Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday indicted Espinosa and his two alleged cohorts, identified as Alfred Christian Batistis and Leonardo dela Cruz, for the killing of retired policeman Alfredo Bucabuca.

The victim was a bodyguard of defeated mayoral candidate Ramon dela Cerna Jr. and a complainant in a graft and corruption case filed against former town councilor Sergio Batistis Jr., a relative of Christian.

Espinosa and the two respondents were tagged by his driver, Nelson Pepito Jr., in the ambush of Bucabuca.

A witness and official of the village where Espinosa lives testified he had served as a lookout during the ambush that occurred at the boundary of this city and Albuera.

Bucabuca was with his wife Mercedita, who survived the attack.