Leyte governor says slain Mayor Espinosa well secured inside jail

TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 9 (PNA) -- Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla said the provincial government did its best to secure the slain Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa, Sr. inside the Leyte sub-provincial jail in Baybay City.

The governor said that although the mayor died inside the facility managed by the provincial government, he did not die in the hands of their personnel, but with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) team serving search warrant inside the detention cell.

“In fact, to ensure the safety of Mayor Espinosa, we asked the Philippine National Police to provide augmentation force to jail guards jail considering that they don’t have experience in handling high-value target,” Petilla said.

Prior to the transfer of Mayor Espinosa to the jail facility, the local government conducted a risk assessment first to ensure not only the safety of the mayor but also of other inmates.

“This is also to have check and balance inside the jail and to ensure the safety of Mayor Espinosa and the other inmates.”

To answer the questions surrounding the mayor’s death, the governor asked the police regional office to conduct impartial investigation for the truth to come out.

He also made a special request to the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a separate independent investigation on the case.

The provincial government will also conduct an internal investigation regarding the incident including possible suspension of the jail warden and jail guards after the incident.

“As much as possible I don’t want for the province to conduct investigation because this may sound like a one-side investigation,” Petilla said.

“And if the truth comes out during the investigation, it will put the fight against illegal drugs back to the right direction.”

Citing reports from jail personnel, Petilla said that there was first a stand-off between the CIDG team and jail guards.

After the operation, the jail guard and members of the PNP where allowed to go back inside the jail facility and it was also then that they learned that the CCTV hard drive was also missing, according to Petilla.

To avoid similar incidents, Petilla said that coordination with other law enforcement groups should always be considered by operating teams. (PNA)

LAP/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA/EGR