RUIZ
Controversial Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. is confined in a Metro Cebu hospital since last Saturday, the regional Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-7) said yesterday.
“He was admitted to a hospital because of chest pains,” regional PDEA director Yogi Filemon Ruiz told reporters during yesterday’s 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza Cebu.
PDEA-7 received information on Espinosa’s arrival in Cebu at 1 p.m. last Saturday.
The mayor’s brother Ramon also arrived at Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA).
They were escorted by the Aviation Security Unit-7 (AVEU-7) as requested by the family.
Ruiz said there were no irregularities in providing escorts to the families since they were only concerned for their safety.
“Nothing irregular because he is not charged in any crimes. They might also considered that their life maybe at risk,” Ruiz said.
As of yesterday morning, Espinosa has not yet left Cebu.
“There are no PDEA-7 personnel who secure him (Espinosa) because he is not under arrest,” Ruiz said in a text message to Cebu Daily News.
Mayor Espinosa and his son Kerwin were told to surrender by President Rodrigo Duterte after the mayor’s bodyguards and the police engaged in a shootout at his home in Albuera town, Leyte province.
The elder Espinosa surrendered for fear of his life and admitted that his son Kerwin is involved in the illegal drug trade in the Visayas.
Ruiz said their latest information is that Kerwin is still out of the country.
“We are alert in case,” Ruiz said.