TACLOBAN
CITY, Aug. 2 (PNA) -- The Leyte Provincial Police Office confirmed that illegal
drugs trade is like a “family business” of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando
Espinosa, Sr.
Leyte police
provincial director Senior Superintendent Franco Simborio confirmed that
mayor’s son, Rolando, Jr. known as “Kerwin” has been included in the list of
third and highest level of the high value target in their anti-drug war.
“The mayor
has become a high value target now after no less than the President named him.
People are aware of the family’s involvement in illegal drugs. It’s like a
family enterprise operating not just here, but other provinces outside Eastern
Visayas,” Simborio told reporters.
The police
official recalled that nine drug-related cases have been filed against Kerwin,
but all were dismissed due to “technicalities.” The last time he was arrested
was early of March 2015 in an anti-drug raid in Albuera town.
On Monday
night, Malacañang asked the mayor and his son to surrender within 24 hours or
face the “shoot on sight” consequence.
The father
surrendered Tuesday morning at the Philippine National Police general
headquarters, but the younger Espinosa remained at large and reportedly out of
the country.
The
President’s order came after two of Espinosa’s body guards and his three
employees were arrested during a buy-bust operation on July 28 at the tennis
court near the houses of the mayor.
Police
recovered at least Php 1.9 million worth of suspected shabu from the operation,
conducted particularly against one Jose Antipuesto, the caretaker of the
mayor’s fighting cocks.
Combined
elements of the local police and the Regional Police Safety Battalion were able
to arrest Antipuesto, Jeffrey Pesquera, and Ernesto Espenido and the mayor’s
bodyguards Jessi Ocares and Marcelo Adorco.
The elder
Espinosa is serving his first term as mayor of Albuera town. (PNA)
PGL/SQM
PGL/SQM
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