Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — A Senate committee tracks the findings of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI): Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa was murdered.
“May mga bagong information pa (There is new information) pointing to premeditated murder,” Public Order and Dangerous Drugs committee chairman Senator Ping Lacson said Wednesday.
The findings were the result of three hearings on the Espinosa killing that happened on November 5.
Lacson said plenary deliberations on the committee report may be held when session resumes in January. Congress is now on Christmas break.
The Committees on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, and Justice and Human Rights held a closed-door session Wednesday morning with Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre and representatives from the NBI and Philippine National Police.
Lacson said they needed clarifications on the NBI report.
He said the committee is drafting the report so it can be deliberated on the floor by January.
The NBI recommended the filing of multiple murder charges against police officers from Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Eastern Visayas who were involved in the raid that led to Espinosa’s death.
Lacson said Aguirre has committed to fast-track the Justice department’s preliminary probe on the Espinosa killing.
