Alleged Espinosa hitman shot dead

One of the alleged hitmen of the Espinosa family from Albuera, Leyte was killed Wednesday morning in Barangay Bato, Toril District in Davao City after allegedly resisting arrest.

The suspect, identified as Leonardo Jake Bolanio dela Cruz, was the common-law husband of Marie Espinosa, sister of self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa and daughter of slain Albuera mayor Rolando Espinosa, police said.

Chief Inspector Ronald Lao, commander of Toril Police Sta- tion, said four warrants of arrest were served on Dela Cruz, among which was for the killing of two policemen in Albuera.

Other warrants were for violation of the Republic Act 8294 (high powered firearms); R.A 10591 (Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunition); and R.A 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002).

“Matawag nga tirador siya sa mga Espinosa. Naa ta’y info nga og madakpan ni sa Albuera, Leyte makagawas lang gihapon sa impluwensya sa mga Espinosa (He is regarded as a hitman of Espinosa. We have information that whenever he is arrested in Albuera, Leyte, he is freed immediately because of the influence of Espinosa),” Lao said.

He added that Dela Cruz, also known as Leonard or Daot, was suspected of being behind the death of at least 20 people.

Lao said the suspect, who hailed from Sitio Tinago, Baran- gay Beholho, Albuera, Leyte, fled to Davao City in September last year and settled as a transient in Barangay Bato, Upper Piedad, Toril.

The operation against Dela Cruz was carried out by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU) Region 8 and RIU Region 11, together with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 11 and Toril PNP.