(Eagle News) — The Supreme Court has ordered an investigation into the circumstances of the issuance of a search warrant that led to the death of detained Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa at the Leyte Sub-Provincial Jail.
SC spokesperson Atty. Theodore Te said that the high court would want to know more about the issuance of the search warrant that was used by the operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to barge into the jail cell of the detained mayor in Baybay City, Leyte.
The search warrant was for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the “Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Act” for Mayor Espinosa.
Another search warrant was issued for Raul Yap, a drug suspect who was also killed by the CIDG.
The search warrants were issued by regional trial court branch 30 of the 8th Judicial Region in Basey, Samar Judge Tarcelo Sabarre.
In the press briefing Tuesday, November 8, Atty. Te said: “The Supreme Court has ordered an investigation into the circumstances relative to the purported issuance of a search warrant directed to the CIDG that has led to the death in custody of Albuera. Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa.”
He did not give any more details.
Albuera, Leyte Mayor Espinosa, who had earlier surrendered to the police for fear for his life, was killed early Saturday morning (November 5), around 4 a.m., inside his cell at the Baybay City Provincial Jail, in an alleged shootout with police operatives.
But witnesses, his fellow detainees at the Baybay City Jail, claimed otherwise.
One of the witnesses interviewed by CNN Philippines recalled that the mayor did not have any gun with him, and did not resist the CIDG cops. He even pleaded for the policemen to allow him to use the restroom.
The witness said that the CIDG operatives turned off the lights, when they noticed that there was a CCTV camera focused on the cell of the mayor. He said the inmates then heard the mayor telling the CIDG cops not to plant a gun.
Shots were then heard. Afterwards, the mayor turned out dead.
The witness said that the CIDG operatives warned them not to speak about the incident or their lives would be in danger.
The Philippine National Police is now also conducting a probe of the incident.