Espinosa’s Killing Will Scare Off Other Witnesses – Gordon

Senator Richard J. Gordon is apprehensive that the operation that led to Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa’s death inside his prison cell in the Baybay City sub-provincial jail in the wee hours of November 5 by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Region 8 could scare off other witnesses.

Gordon, who as head of the justice and human rights committee, co-chaired the Senate inquiry into Espinosa’s killing, stressed that the mayor’s killing robbed citizens of justice because witnesses may now be afraid to come forward for fear of their lives.

“Ninakawan tayong lahat ng katarungan. Sino pa ang tetestigo kung mapapatay lang? Tao ang tunay na natalo dito. Kung yan ay talagang high value witness, naging high value target yan dahil nagsalita siya. Bakit niyo ilalagay sa isang preso na hindi kontrolado ng national government? Kontrolado ng provincial government kung saan maraming nakalista sa ibinunyag niya, may mga police at local officials. Syempre nilagay niyo sa alanganin yung tao, parang itinapon sa ilog na punung-puno ng buwaya. Pwede siyang patayin ng mga preso dun, pwede siyang ipapatay doon, pwede siyang pasukin doon,” the senator noted.

“Mukhang hindi nila ginawa yung mga dapat nilang gawin para masigurado ang kaligtasan ng isang testigo. Sino pa ang tetestigo ngayon, sino pa ang mag-o-offer ng impormasyon ngayon? Kung yung mga nasa custody na ng mga pulis, nasa custody ng husgado, napapatay sa loob ng bilangguan, who else is safe?” he added.

Gordon earlier filed Senate Resolution No. 226 which calls for an investigation into the recent series of deaths of persons that are mainly drug-related killings by the police during police operations, under police custody and detention, and outside legitimate police duty, with the objective of making the members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) more accountable and responsible in fulfilling their constitutional duty to serve and protect the people.

“WHEREAS, there is a need to address the serious questions on the apparent irregularity in police operations that needs to be investigated and clarified if only to allay the fear of the public that legal processes are already being used as a subterfuge for summary killings to liquidate or neutralize persons allegedly involved in crimes, especially illegal drugs…” he said in the resolution.

After hearing the testimonies of the police officials over the operation, Gordon said the loopholes in the testimonies reinforced the theory that it was a case of extrajudicial killing, adding that it was fortunate that the CIDG operatives brought their lawyer because their testimonies could be used against them in court.

“It would appear that the police really have a lot to explain. Una, ang procedures mali; pangalawa, mukhang ang intensyon ay hindi hulihin kungdi talagang tepokin. Ayoko sanang magsalita ng ganyan pero even police officials are saying na talagang maling-mali ang operation at walang coordination. Sinabi ko na dapat itawag sila ng abogado nila dahil mukhang ibinibitay na nila ang mga sarili nila. Ini-incriminate nila ang mga sarili nila sa mga testimony nila, mukhang mapapasubo sila ng malalim. Mabuti na lang meron silang kasamang lawyer kasi yung kanilang sinabi diyan ay pwedeng gamitin laban sa kanila sa husgado. Talagang bistado, maraming nagpapakita na talagang ito ay extrajudicial killing. Talagang malakas ang ebidensya laban sa mga tao,” he added.

Espinosa had surrendered to the PNP last August after his name was included in a list of government officials allegedly involved in illegal drugs. At the time, he claimed to know some 30 lawmakers and police commanders involved in illegal drugs. He subsequently left police custody and returned to work, but was arrested last October 5 over illegal drug and weapons charges.