CIDG-8 admits they ordered jail guards to “face the wall,” as Senate probes Espinosa killing

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The entrance to the Leyte Sub-Provincial Jail where Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa and another drug suspect were killed in an alleged shootout inside their jail cells by CIDG operatives. (Eagle News Service. Photo courtesy Dan Pascua. ENS correspondent)
The entrance to the Leyte Sub-Provincial Jail where Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa and another drug suspect were killed in an alleged shootout inside their jail cells by CIDG operatives. (Eagle News Service. Photo courtesy Dan Pascua. ENS correspondent)

 

(Eagle News) – The Senate started on Thursday morning, November 10, its investigation on the circumstances of the mysterious killing while under detention of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa, with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group operatives admitting that they have indeed ordered jail guards to “face the wall” when they proceeded to the mayor’s jail cell.

During the hearing, CIDG operatives tried to justify the service of their search warrant and the killing of Espinosa, claiming that Espinosa tried to shoot at them even before the warrant was served.

They claimed that the jailguards tried to prevent them from entering the jail, so they barged their way in, disarmed the jailguards, and ordered them to face the wall when they went in.

Chief Inspector Leo Laraga admitted that the CIDG operatives also forced their way into the jail, and proceeded to the jail cells of Mayor Espinosa and another drug suspect Raul Yap.

Laraga said all the jail guards and the Philippine National Police (PNP) assigned at the jail were all disarmed.  He said that the jailguards and PNP men assigned at the jail were also ordered to face the wall, because they tried to stop the CIDG from proceeding inside the jail.

Chief Inspector Leo Laraga, who led the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) that barged into the Leyte Sub-Provincial Jail where Mayor Espinosa was killed. Beside him is Supt. Marvin Marcos, chief of CIDG Region 8. (Eagle News Service)
Chief Inspector Leo Laraga, who led the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) that barged into the Leyte Sub-Provincial Jail where Mayor Espinosa was killed. Beside him is Supt. Marvin Marcos, chief of CIDG Region 8. (Eagle News Service)

Laraga also admitted that he was the one who shot Espinosa.

“Ako po ang nakabaril,” Laraga said.

Espinosa had two shots on the chest, and two shots on the abdomen.

Region 8 director of the CIDG, Supt. Marvin Marcos also admitted that he did not inform his superiors about their planned operation to serve a search warrant to Mayor Espinosa.

He also admitted that he did not coordinate with the Leyte Provincial Jail warden.

PNP Deputy Chief of Operations Director Benjamin Magalong said that the operatives of the CIDG-8 violated police procedures when they failed to coordinate with their superiors and with the Leyte Provincial Jail Warden.

Eagle News Service earlier reported that the jail guards had been forced by the CIDG operatives to face the wall when they forced their way inside the Leyte Sub-provincial Jail in Baybay City, Leyte.