Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa pleaded with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) not to plant evidences against him before the politician was killed.
“Ayaw gyud ko ninyo plantere, sir, wa ko armas nga gitago (Please do not plant evidence sir, I’m not hiding any firearms),” Espinosa was heard pleading CIDG team before gun rang which later on killed the former mayor along with another inmate Raul Yap.
CCTV footage of the incident has been reported missing.
The CIDG team was about to serve Espinosa’s warrant of arrest inside Baybay City provincial jail at around 4 a.m. when the incident happened.
Leyte provincial jail warden Homobono Bardillon said “They heard gunshots fired inside the cell of Espinosa where the slain mayor was begging (for his life) from the CIDG operatives.”
He said that the CIDG team was escorted by four policemen whom he did not identify, “They could do nothing but simply observe. Otherwise, malaking gulo.”
The Philippine National Police (PNP) grounds the CIDG to conduct own investigation regarding the incident.
PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Dionardo Carlos said, “On orders of the CIDG director, they are directed to stay in their respective offices to make themselves available for any queries (about the raid) from competent authority who [have] official interests in the case.”
Chief Inspector Leo Laraga headed the said operation of the CIDG according to Carlos.
On the other hand, CIDG regional director Chief Superintendent Marvin Marcos defended his men saying, “Yes, we are willing to submit to any probe and cooperate,” he said. “This is also an avenue for us, especially… the CIDG operatives who served the search warrant to clear their names and the CIDG of course. Speculations will not help in the investigation; let’s await the results of whatever investigation may come.”
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