Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Superintendents Marvin Marcos and Santi Magtira, and Chief Inspector Leo Laraga faced the Philippine National Police (PNP) Internal Affairs Service (IAS) on Thursday as part of the ongoing investigation on the killing of late Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa.
The three were among the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) officials who carried out an operation at the Leyte Sub-Provincial Jail in Baybay City last November 5, which led to the killing of Mayor Espinosa after a supposed shootout.
Mayor Espinosa’s son, alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, also claimed that the three officials received drug money from him in several instances.
During the IAS investigation, the three were quiet and refused to grant an interview.
But during the Senate probe on the death of Mayor Espinosa on Wednesday, they insisted that their operation was legitimate, with C/Insp. Leo Laraga saying he did not regret shooting Espinosa.
“Wala akong pagsisisi kasi lumaban naman ‘yung tatay mo,” Laraga said, “Tsaka ‘di na simpleng tao ‘yon, your honor. Saka ayokong mawalan yung anak ko ng ama, kung ako naman ang mapatay ng tatay mo.”
[Translation: I have no regrets because your dad resisted. He wasn’t a simple person, your honor. If that did not happen, I would have been killed by your father. My children would have lost their father.]
They also denied receiving drug protection money from Kerwin.
“Bakit ako hihingi ng P3 million?… Dapat magsasabi siya ng totoo [Why will I ask for P3 million. He should tell the truth],” Marcos said while looking straight at Kerwin Espinosa during the probe.
Meanwhile, the policemen named in Kerwin Espinosa’s affidavit are now being accounted for – even Albuera Police chief Jovie Espenido is not spared.
Espinosa claimed that Espenido was his link to Ronnie Dayan, the person who allegedly received drug money for Senator Leila De Lima’s senatorial bid. But Espenido denied knowing Dayan.
Director General Ronald Dela Rosa said the PNP is doing everything humanly possible to speed up the investigation process.
Espenido welcomes the investigation process.
“Hintayin ko ‘yan kaya wala tayong problema. Sabi ko nga, wala akong mga backer na magsabi natin na mapuntahan ko. Imbestigahan talaga. Iyon ang pinakamaganda,” Espenido said.
The PNP Internal Affairs Service said they are expediting the ongoing investigation against all policemen allegedly involved in the death of Mayor Espinosa and in the illegal drug trade.
But IAS Deputy Inspector General Leo Angelo Leuterio clarified they need to go through the right process to avoid technical issues that may lead to the eventual dismissal of the case.
“This will lead to a case of grave misconduct. The maximum penalty of which is dismissal from the service. We are talking about the lives of policemen also… We are not crying for blood here. We are administering justice. Hind naman ito [This is not] revenge, revenge justice. While summary in nature, the process of the internal affairs is formal also,” Leuterio said.
He added the IAS wants to ensure a swift probe without sacrificing its fairness and credibility.
