Inmate killed in Leyte prison facility anti-drug raid

TACLOBAN CITY, Aug. 11 (PNA) -- An inmate was killed when police operatives raided the Leyte Regional Penitentiary in Abuyog, Leyte early Thursday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) regional office here reported.

Police identified the fatality as Edgar Allen Alvarez. He was shot to death while attempting to fight the raiding team from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Regional Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Group, Regional Public Safety Battalion, and the Regional Maritime Unit.

“During the implementation of the search warrant subject lobbed a grenade at the raiding team, however it did not explode. Subsequently, Alvarez drew a caliber 45 pistol and fired upon the raiding team,” said Chief Insp. Maria Bella Rentuaya, spokesperson of the Eastern Visayas police.

This prompted the police to return fire, killing the suspect, according to Rentuaya.

Rentuaya said that recovered during the initial search were one unit caliber 45 pistol, one unit caliber 38 revolver, one big pack dried marijuana leaves and undetermined volume of suspected shabu.

The police raided the prison facility around 4:30 a.m. on Thursday after it was tagged as one of the sources of illegal drugs of notorious drug lord Kerwin, son of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa, Sr.

When the elder Espinosa surrendered to PNP Chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa last week, he disclosed that his son gets supply of illegal drugs from the penitentiary in Abuyog town. (PNA)
BNB/SARWELL Q. MENIANO