Police ensure safety of Espinosa family after case downgrade

TACLOBAN CITY, June 14 -- The Leyte police provincial office here has assured the safety of slain Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa’s family after the Department of Justice (DOJ) downgraded the murder case filed against police officers who raided the prison cell of the local chief executive.

Leyte police provincial director Sr. Supt. Norberto Tuazon said two police officers had been assigned to secure the Espinosa family since late last year.

“Definitely, they are well-secured. We have been renewing monthly the letter order for the provision of security personnel,” Tuazon told reporters on Wednesday.

The Espinosa family has expressed fear for their safety now that the two counts of murder case against the accused police officers have been downgraded, according to their lawyers.

The two policemen, according to Tuazon closely watch the family 24 hours a day. 

The family sought for protection from the Philippine National Police (PNP) after receiving threats after the patriarch’s death. 

The DOJ, in its May 29, 2017 resolution, downgraded the murder case filed against Supt. Marvin Marcos and 18 other Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) personnel into homicide since there are no evidence that the crime was well-planned.

The DOJ added that Espinosa and another inmate Raul Yap were tested positive of gunpowder, confirming the claims of the police that the two inmates fought back during the pre-dawn raid on November 5, 2016.

The new decision reversed the DOJ’s March 2, 2017 resolution that the police plotted the killing of the mayor linked to illegal drugs inside Leyte sub-provincial jail in Baybay City.

Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla said he respects the decision of the DOJ to downgrade the case.

Speaking to reporters, Petilla briefly expressed his reaction to the issue saying that he’s not a lawyer and not familiar with the details of the case.

“If that is from our justice system, we have to respect the decision,” Petilla said.

A case for two counts of murder have been filed against Supt. Marvin Marcos, Sr. Insp. 

Deogracia Pedong Diaz III, Chief Insp. Calixto Canillas Jr., Insp. Lucresito Candelosas, Senior Police Officers (SPO) 2 Benjamin Dacallos and Antonio Docil, SPO 1 Mark Christian Cadilo, Police Office (PO) 3 Norman Abellanosa, POs 2 John Ruel Doculan and Jaime Bacsal, and PO1 Jerlan Cabiyaan.

Four other police officers were charged for the murder of Espinosa – Supt. Santi Noel Matira, Chief Insp. Leo Daio Laraga, SPO4 Melvin Caboyit and PO3 Johnny Abuda Ibanez – while four others for murder of Yap – Sr. Insp. Fritz Bioco Blanco, SPO4 Juanito Duarte, PO2 Lloyd Ortiguesa and PO1 Bernard Orpilla.

The accused are now detained at the jail facility of CIDG regional office in this city due to cell congestion at the Baybay City sub-provincial jail. (Sarwell Q. Meniano & Roel T. Amazona)