Mayor Espinosa of Albuera, Leyte holds office in town police station after seeking protection
The controversial mayor of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Jr. has a new office instead of holding it on the municipal hall of the town.
This is because the mayor fears for his life after his lawyer, Atty. Rogelio Bato Jr., was murdered in Tacloban City on Tuesday. Atty. Bato was found lifeless inside a pick-up in Tacloban City, with him was a 16-year old girl who was found dead also.
The beleaguered local chief executive asked for protection after unidentified gunmen shot dead Bato Jr. on Tuesday. Atty. Bato was the lawyer of Kerwin Espinosa, the son of the mayor who is alleged the drug lord in Eastern Visayas.
Police Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido, Albuera police staton chief, said the mayor occupies their investigation room after seeking a protective custody from the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The embattled mayor arrived at the police station around 9 a.m. on Thursday. A mattress was later delivered to his room where he will also stay overnight. The mayor’s room is next to the police chief’s office.
“We can assure the mayor’s safety inside the police station,” Espenido said. The local police provided chairs and a desk for the mayor to be able to work.
The mayor allegedly linked to illegal drugs trade, formally sought police protection on Wednesday as he executed an affidavit disclosing names of government officials protecting drugs trade in Eastern Visayas region.
Espenido said Espinosa’s request for protective custody “will assure us that we can arrest him immediately once (a) warrant of arrest against him is released by the court.”
On Monday, Espinosa met with Espenido for the first time after the latter’s assignment on July 18. The meeting lasted for five hours.
Espinosa earlier surrendered to Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa after he was accused of involvement in illegal drugs, along with his son Kerwin, by President Rodrigo Duterte. Kerwin remains at large and he is allegedly staying outside the country after Duterte began his office.
The mayor returned to Albuera and reassumed his post after a shootout near his home that left six gunmen dead and a raid on his residence that netted drugs and guns. The police earlier filed cases against Espinosa for illegal drugs and illegal possession of firearms.