Death of Rolando Espinosa

Rolando Espinosa, the mayor of Albuera, Leyte, died on November 5, 2016, at the Baybay City Provincial Jail. He was detained at the jail due to his arrest for illegal drug possession in October 2016.[1] According to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Espinosa was killed during a shootout that he initiated when the CIDG came to the jail to serve him a search warrant.[2] Espinosa's death occurred amid allegations that he was involved in the drug trade by President Rodrigo Duterte,[3] who initiated the Philippine Drug War intending to kill criminals using or distributing drugs. The Commission on Human Rights and Karapatan have held Duterte accountable for Espinosa's death, with Senate condemning the death as an instance of extrajudicial killing.[2]

Death of Rolando Espinosa
Part of the Philippine Drug War
DateNovember 5, 2016 (2016-11-05)
VenueBaybay City Provincial Jail
LocationBaybay, Leyte, Philippines
CauseGunshot (autopsy findings)
DeathsRolando Espinosa
Raul Yap

Background
Rolando Espinosa
Mayor of Albuera, Leyte
In office
June 30, 2016 – November 5, 2016
Succeeded byRosa Nemeses
Personal details
Born
Rolando Rosal Espinosa

(1950-05-05)May 5, 1950
DiedNovember 5, 2016(2016-11-05) (aged 66)
Baybay, Leyte, Philippines

Rolando Espinosa

Rolando Espinosa was a Filipino politician who served as mayor of Albuera, Leyte. He was elected to the position in the May 2016 Philippine elections. Espinosa's campaign focused on combating illegal drugs.[4] Prior to his political career, Espinosa already owned three houses and a hotel in Albuera. The Philippine National Police has alleged that his son Kerwin Espinosa is involved in the illegal drug trade.[4]

First surrender
Then PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa presents Kerwin Espinosa, who voluntarily surrendered himself to authorities, to the media.

On August 1, 2016, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who was conducting a nationwide campaign against illegal drugs, asked Espinosa and his son Kerwin to surrender themselves within 24 hours "on the grounds of drug-trafficking and coddling." Duterte said that the police would arrest and possibly shoot them if they resisted arrest.[5] Fearing for his life, Espinosa voluntarily surrendered himself at Camp Crame to Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald Dela Rosa on Aug 2. Espinosa admitted that his son Kerwin was involved in the illegal drug trade in Eastern Visayas and urged Kerwin, who had a standing arrest warrant, to surrender himself to authorities. However, Espinosa denied using money from illegal drugs to finance his election campaign. He agreed to undergo drug testing and was turned over to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. At the time of his arrest, the mayor did not have a standing arrest warrant.[6]

At 5:30 a.m (UTC +8) on August 3, the police had a shootout with twelve armed men with alleged links to Espinosa in Barangay Benolho in Albuera. Six of the men were killed, and 237 grams (8.4 oz) of shabu (methamphetamine) worth ₱1.9 million, along with some firearms, were seized.[7]

On August 4, 2016, CIDG Region 8 and the Albuera Police Station filed criminal charges against the Espinosas.[8]

On August 6, Espinosa, along with his daughter and wife, left the PNP director general's residence in Camp Crame and went back to Leyte.[9]

On August 7, Duterte announced a list of government officials, police officers, and law practitioners who were allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade in the country. Espinosa was included in Duterte's list.[10]

Espinosa resumed work as mayor on August 16.

Second surrender and arrest

On August 24, 2016, Espinosa went to the police to seek custody due to threats to his life. Espinosa promised to reveal his son's connections. Three days later, the police took Espinosa into custody. On October 5, Espinosa was arrested for alleged possession of illegal drugs when the police found at least 11 kilograms (24 lb) of methamphetamine at the Espinosa ancestral home in Albuerra.[8]

Espinosa was brought to the Baybay City Regional Trial Court, which ordered him to be detained at the Baybay City Provincial Jail. In October, he was charged with illegal drug possession by the regional trial court. He was also brought to the Western Leyte Provincial Hospital where he underwent a medical examination.[11]

Death

Judge Tarcelo Sabarre Jr. of the Regional Trial Court Branch 30 issued two search warrants against Rolando Espinosa and Raul Yap, who was also suspected of being involved in illegal drugs, at the Baybay City Provincial Jail in Barangay Hipusngo. The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of Region 8, led by Police Chief Inspector Leo Laraga, served the warrants in the early morning of November 5, 2016. According to the CIDG, Espinosa and Yap first shot at the CIDG operatives, resulting in a shootout between the two men and the CIDG. Espinosa and Yap died in the alleged firefight.[12]

Reaction

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan expressed concerns over strong indications that the death of Espinosa was a "cold-blooded murder," saying that the circumstances of his death were highly questionable. They urged the relief of CIDG operatives involved in the incident as well as of the CIDG Section 8 leadership, pending a "thorough and impartial" investigation. The group also said that those implicated in the list of alleged drug lords may take advantage of Espinosa's killing. They urged Duterte to condemn Rolando Espinosa's killing and labeled the incident as a setback for the president's war on drugs.[13]

The Commission on Human Rights and Karapatan also called for people involved in Espinosa's death to be held accountable. Karapatan in particular linked the police to "narcopolitics" and alleged that the CIDG conducted a "rubout".[14]

Following the incident, Senator Panfilo Lacson called for the possible resumption of the Senate inquiry into deaths related to the Philippine war on drugs. He labeled the incident as a "clear case of extrajudicial killing" and as the "biggest challenge to the credibility of the PNP". Lacson alleged that there was a cover-up for "bigger personalities" and questioned why the CIDG, instead of a court sheriff, was sent, since Espinosa was already detained. He also alleged that Yap was killed so that there would be no witnesses.[15]

Aftermath

Investigation

PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa ordered an investigation of the incident, promising that there would be no cover-up.[16] On the same day as the CIDG operation, operatives arrived at the crime scene where they were apprised of a Super Caliber .38 pistol, a magazine of live ammunition, a small heat-sealed sachet of suspected methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia in Espinosa's cell.[12]

A panel led by the Regional Director Chief Superintendent of region 8, a certain Beltejar, was formed to investigate the incident. The Regional Internal Affairs Service also planned to conduct a separate investigation.[12]

Video footage of the CIDG operations was found to be missing. An autopsy on Espinosa's body revealed that he was shot four times, with one bullet managing to exit the body. The findings of the study also raised the possibility that Espinosa may have been lying down when he was shot dead. Two of his expensive rings were also found to be missing. The bullets were sent to the regional crime laboratory for further investigation.[16]

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) also became involved in the case. In December 2016, the agency concluded that the death of Rolando Espinosa was a result of a rubout. It recommended the filing of murder and perjury charges against police personnel involved in the operation. The NBI described the arrest warrants, which served as the basis for the operation, as having been "maliciously obtained". It noted that Paul Olendan, whose perjured affidavit the warrant was based on, was in Leyte National High School in Tacloban at the time he claimed to have visited the Baybay Jail. The NBI added that there had been an anti-contraband operation on October 30, 2016 in the jail where Espinosa was detained, and that enforcers only found cellphones during that operation.[17]

Burial of Espinosa

Espinosa was buried at the Catholic Cemetery in Albuera, Leyte on December 3, 2016, following a requiem mass at the Saint James Parish Church. His funeral procession was attended by 1,500 people.[18]

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See also

References
  1. "Albuera Mayor Espinosa shot dead inside jail cell". ABS-CBN News. 5 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  2. "Albuera Mayor Espinosa Shot Dead in Jail Cell". GMA Network. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  3. "Dutertes List Narcos Politicos Lawmen Judges". abs-cbn. 7 August 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  4. Who is Rolando Espinosa, Sr.?. ABS-CBN News Network. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  5. "Duterte orders drug-accused Mayor to surrender within 24 hours". ABS-CBN News. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  6. Nicolas, Fiona (2 August 2016). "Leyte mayor surrenders for fear for his life, heeds Duterte's call against drugs". CNN Philippines. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  7. "6 alleged Espinosa men killed in Leyte shootout with police". GMA News. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  8. "From the arrest to the killing of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa". GMA News. 5 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  9. "Espinosas leave PNP's White House". GMA News. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  10. "DUTERTE'S LIST: 'Narco' politicos, lawmen, judges". ABS-CBN News. 7 August 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  11. "Police arrest Leyte town mayor linked to drugs". ABS-CBN News. 5 October 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  12. Parco, Bernadette (5 November 2016). "Albuera Mayor Espinosa shot dead in jail cell". GMA News. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  13. Gonzales, Yuji Vincent (7 November 2016). "Mayor Espinosa's killing sets back Duterte's drug war—Bayan". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  14. Colcol, Erwin (11 November 2016). "Duterte urged to hold persons behind Espinosa death accountable". GMA News. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  15. Quismundo, Tarra (5 November 2016). "Lacson: Mayor Espinosa's slay a 'clear case of extrajudicial killing'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  16. Docdocan, Ranulfo (6 November 2016). "Slain Mayor Espinosa shot 4 times, autopsy results show". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  17. Araneta, Sandy; Bencito, John Paolo (6 December 2016). "Murder raps eyed vs 'Espinosa cops'". Manila Standard. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  18. Gabieta, Joey (4 December 2016). "A town in grief Hundreds join funeral rites for Espinosa Sr". Cebu Daily News. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
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