CIDG team arraignment reset to April 26

BAYBAY CITY, Leyte – The arraignment of former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) regional chief for Eastern Visayas Marvin M. Marcos and his group who are facing murder charges for the killing of Albuera, Leyte, Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. and jail inmate Raul Yap inside the Leyte SubProvincial Jail last year has been reset to April 26.

Regional Trial Court Branch 14 Judge Carlos O. Arguelles allowed Marcos and his co-accused to file supplemental and amended motions to defer proceedings on the charges filed against them by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Acting Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Elmer C. Beltejar said the detained CIDG and Maritime policemen were transferred from Tacloban City to this city for their arraignment last Wednesday.

Beltejar said the group was returned to the CIDG detention center in Tacloban following the postponement.

Charged with Marcos are Superintendent 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., officers Johnny Ibanez, Norman Abellanosa, Niel Centino, Bernard Orpilla, Lloyd Ortiguesa, Jerlan Cabiyaan, Cristal Gisma and Divine Grace Songalia, all from the CIDG, and Chief Inspector Calixto Canillas Jr., Inspector Lucresito Candelosas, and police officers Antonio Docil, Mark Cadilo, John Ruel Daculan, and Jaime Bacsal of the Police Regional Maritime Unit.

Marcos and his team went to the sub-provincial jail on November 5, 2016 with a warrant to search the cell of Espinosa for illegal drugs and guns.

In his testimony, Marcos said Espinosa shot at his team, triggering a gunfight in which the mayor and Yap were killed.

The incident was widely criticized amid speculations that Espinosa was a victim of a rubout. Senator Panfilo Lacson, who led a Senate hearing, said he strongly believes the mayor was murdered.