MANILA – Mayor Rolando Espinosa of Albuera, Leyte on Wednesday arrived at Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) office in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Espinosa, aboard Mahindra police mobile unit, was accompanied by his wife and daughter and his lawyer Atty. Romeo Esmero. They arrived at CIDG around 2 p.m. to submit affidavit of undertaking.
Espinosa did not comment on media’s questions regarding the presence of armed men at his residence at Sitio Tinago, Barangay Binulho, Albuera, Leyte. The still unidentified armed men reportedly traded shots with police authorities, early Wednesday morning, which resulted in the death of six, believed to be Espinosa’s bodyguards during the last elections.
As of posting, Espinosa, his lawyer, Chief Supt. Roel B. Obusan, CIDG Acting Director, and CIDG Chief for legal Atty. Virgilio Pabrigo, are holding a closed door meeting.
Espinosa, who was linked to illegal drugs as drug protector, has surrendered a day after President Rodrigo Duterte gave him 24 hours to surrender or face “shoot on sight,” Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Rolando “Bato” Dela Rosa said.
The PNP Chief also said that Espinosa would return to his municipality after the investigation since there was no warrant against him.
However, Dela Rosa urged the mayor that upon his return to his home town, he would keep the town away from illegal drugs or a zero tolerance in the use of illegal drugs for two months.
“The President gave me three to six months and I’ll be giving you mayor two months zero tolerance. Pag may nabili pa ako drugs sa lugar ninyo ako na bahala,” he told the mayor.
“Right now wala siyang warrant of arrest (he doesn’t have arrest warrant) we cannot detained him that is why he voluntary surrender. What can I do… I have to accept him walang kaso pero napakalakas ng intelligence na protektahan niya ang kanyang anak niya,” he told reporters.
He added that what was important was that Espinosa promised to cooperate for war against the illegal drugs in his municipality.
Dela Rosa said that Espinosa decided to surrender peacefully because he was listed to President watchlist of drug protectors, protecting his son Kerwin, the no.1 listed drug lord in Eastern Visayas.
Kerwin remains at large, the older Espinosa advise his son to stop the illegal activities but he has decided to make on his own.
Dela Rosa told Espinosa that they (PNP) would shoot Kerwin once the latter resisted arrest.