Leyte mayor, son ordered to surrender; evidence links 2 PNP generals to drugs
President Duterte on Monday gave the mayor of Albuera, Leyte and his son 24 hours within which to surrender peacefully lest he will issue a “shoot on sight” order against them.
“Today President Rodrigo R. Duterte demanded the surrender of Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., of Albuera,
Leyte, and his son, Kerwin Espinosa, on the grounds of drug trafficking and coddling, within 24 hours,” said presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella in a text message to Malacañang reporters.
If they do not surrender within the given time, “an order of ‘shoot on sight’ will be given if they resist and endanger the lives of arresting police officers,” Abella added.
Reacting to the President’s order, Chief Superintendent Elmer Beltejar, Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) in the Eastern Visayas, said they are ready to use force if Mayor Espinosa and his son resist arrest and fight it out with the police.
Beltejar, in a statement, said the PNP will follow the instructions of the Commander-in-Chief to effect the arrest of the two.
“We will apply ‘Oplan Tokhang’ and ask the subject persons to surrender as demanded by the President,” Beltejar said.
“If they resist and place the public and the lives of our peace officers in danger, then the PNP will defend themselves to protect the public,” he added.
Beltejar confirmed that Kerwin is included in their high-value target of persons involved in illegal drugs operations. However, he has not been arrested due to the alleged protection from his father.
Illegal drugs protectors As this developed, the National Police Commission (Napolcom) said it has gathered enough pieces of evidence to enable it to file administrative charges against two Philippine National Police (PNP) generals allegedly involved in illegal drugs.
Napolcom said it already has “prima facie” evidence linking Director Joel Pagdilao, former National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) chief, and Chief Superintendent Edgardo G. Tinio, former Quezon City Police District (QCPD) chief, as alleged coddlers of drug lords.
Pagdilao is a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1984 while Tinio is from PMA Class of 1985.
Napolcom Vice Chairman Rogelio Casurao said they have given the two police generals until Tuesday to answer the findings of the government investigating body.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ismael D. Sueno had earlier said they have gathered pieces of evidence against the two PNP generals.
Mayor’s security aides Meanwhile, the order for Espinosa and his son to surrender was given after two of the mayor’s bodyguards and three other individuals were arrested in a buy-bust operation at Sitio Tinago, Barangay Benolho in Albuera Thursday last week.
According to reports, 11.9 million worth of shabu were seized from the suspects, identified as Jessie Ocares, Marcelo Adorco, Jose Antipuesto, Ernesto Dumalat, and Jeffrey Pesquera. Ocares and Adorco are bodyguards of the mayor, while the three others are allegedly his employees.
Also taken from the suspects were two .45 caliber Glock 21 pistol, ammunition, three 1100 bills used as marked money, and 123,870 cash.
Reports indicate that during the operation, four other suspects escaped after they allegedly ran inside the house of the young Espinosa. Kerwin’s house is reportedly located in the same compound where his father also lives.