(Eagle News)–The late Albuera town Mayor Rolando Espinosa was killed during a rub out, not in a shootout, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) concluded on Tuesday (December 6).
The NBI has advised the Department of Justice (DOJ) to file multiple charges against 24 Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Region 8 officers led by their head Superintendent Marvin Marcos, and other individuals involved in the killing of Espinosa and his cell mate, Raul Yap, on November 5.
“After conducting an exhaustive investigation of the incidents surrounding the killing of Mayor Espinosa and Yap, the NBI concluded that the testimonies of several witnesses had disputed the claim of an alleged shootout between the CIDG Operatives and Inmates Mayor Espinosa and Raul Yap but a ‘rub out,'” the bureau said in a statement.
The NBI also recommended the filing of charges against Police Chief Inspector Leo Diao Laraga, PO3 Norman Abellanosa and Paul Olendan for the dubious issuance of search warrant.
NBI spokesman Ferdinand Lavin stressed that the killing of Espinosa was premeditated.
Facing multiple murder and perjury charges are CIDG Region 8 chief Supt. Marvin Marcos, Supt. Noel Matira, Chief Inspector Leo Laraga, Senior Inspectors Deogracia Diaz and Fritz Blanco, Senior Police Officers Melvin Cayobit, Eric Constantino, Benjamin Dacallos, Juanito Duarte and Alphinor Serrano Jr., police officers Johnny Ibanez, Norman Abellanosa, Niel Centino, Bernard Orpilla, Lloyd Ortiguesa, Jerlan Cabiyaan, Cristal Gisma and Divine Grace Songalia.
Also facing charges are Philippine National Police Regional Maritime Unit 8 personnel Chief Inspector Calixto Canillas Jr. and Inspector Lucresito Candelosas, as well as police officers Antonio Docil, Mark Cadilo, John Ruel Daculan and Jaime Bacsal.
The son of the late mayor, self professed drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa, in an earlier statement said that his father was killed in a rubout contrary to the claims of the police.
