‘PREMEDITATED’

Actor-turned-Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez belies his drug links and has ordered his lawyers to file charges against Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido, Albuera police chief, for linking him to the Espinosa drug syndicate. (In this file photo, Gomez is with his wife, Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez.)

The likelihood that the killing of Albuera, Leyte, Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. was a case of a rubout grew stronger yesterday, even as names of prominent personalities tagged as drug protectors of the Espinosas also emerged, including actor-turned-Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez, during the Senate hearing into the mayor’s death.

This developed as Sen. Panfilo Lacson revealed that Kerwin Espinosa, the son of the slain mayor and tagged as the biggest drug lord in Eastern Visayas, expressed his desire to be placed under the witness protection program and has “validated” names in his blue book that included certain candidates in the last national and local elections.

Kerwin “must live to tell his story,” Lacson said on Thursday, saying that Espinosa’s imminent deportation from Abu Dhabi, where he was arrested on Oct. 17, must be given “utmost attention and security concern” by the government if it wanted to identify those who had allegedly benefited from his drug-dealing activities.

Lacson revealed there are “people” in touch with Kerwin to whom the drug lord had validated several names in his blue book. The list includes the recipients of campaign contributions in the recent 2016 national and local elections, he said.

“Therefore, unlike his late father, the Albuera mayor, he must live to tell his story,” the senator added.

The mayor was killed during an alleged firefight with the police while a search warrant was being served in his cell at the Leyte sub-provincial jail in Baybay, Leyte, on Nov. 5.

But Lacson and several other senators believed the killing of the mayor was premeditated.

This after members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection in Eastern Visayas (CIDG-8) led by Supt. Marvin Marcos failed to explain why they called the scene of the crime operatives (Soco) even before they raided Espinosa’s cell at the sub-provincial jail in Baybay City, Leyte, before dawn of Nov. 5.

Lacson noted during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs that the team requested for Soco at 3:49 a.m., even before the raiding team could enter the jail at 4:30 a.m., which, he said, apparently meant that they were anticipating to get someone killed during the search.

Supt. Santi Noel Matira, also of CIDG-8, explained he requested for Soco after Chief Insp. Leo Laraga, who led the raid, informed him that shots had been fired.

But Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon asked how there could be gunshots at 3:49 a.m. when the team was able to enter the jail only at 4:30 a.m.

“May expectation ba na may mamatay, na may babarilin? May expectation ba na lalaban?” the senator asked again to which Matira answered: “Wala po, Sir.”

On Sen. Richard Gordon’s questioning, Matira changed his testimony, saying he was now in the middle of the firefight when he requested for Soco.

“Nandoon ka sa loob? Nangyayari ang putukan nandun ka sa loob? So nangyari ang putukan at 3:49, according you?” Gordon asked.

“Hindi ko ma-recall, sir,” Matira said.

At that point, Lacson interjected and said: “There’s one word to describe this, premeditated.”

Gordon agreed with Lacson’s statement.

“Correct. That’s why I’m asking him. Lumabalas premeditated lahat ang sinasabi mo,” Gordon said.

Lacson also said it did not make sense that Espinosa would put up a fight since he was already in jail and had nowhere to run or hide.

Gomez, et al.

As the police officials kept on insisting there was a shootout that led to Espinosa’s death, another CIDG-8 officer, Chief Insp. Leo Laraga, meanwhile identified Gomez as among those involved in the “drug group” of the Espinosas.

Gomez’s name, along with other local government officials in Leyte, cropped up when Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III asked Laraga to explain why they had to apply for the search warrants against Espinosa in Basey, Samar.

Laraga explained they had to secure search warrants in Samar because most of the courts in Leyte province were controlled by local politicians and police officials there.

Initially, Laraga refused to name the officials; but when Sotto insisted, he named the officials as Baybay Vice Mayor Mike Cari; Leyte Rep. Vicente “Ching” Veloso, a former appellate justice; Leyte Gov. Leopoldo Petilla; and Gomez.

“Based on your information, are they involved in the Espinosa drug group?” Sotto asked. Laraga said, “It was the statement of the late Mayor Espinosa himself.”

Sen. Miguel Zubiri then raised his concern on Gomez’s alleged involvement in the drug group, saying he has not seen in any reports on social media that the actor has ties with Mayor Espinosa and his son Kerwin.

“I have not heard of Mayor Richard Gomez’s name ever in any social media circle. That must be clarified. This is aired live. We don’t want to taint his name,” he said partly in Filipino.

Laraga explained the CIDG does not have a copy of Espinosa’s affidavit, but he said he remembered personally hearing Albuera police head Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido mention the name of Gomez and other officials during a case conference.

Laywer Alex Avisado, the legal counsel of Gomez, posted a statement on Facebook saying the allegations were untrue as the mayor and his wife, Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez, have always been against drugs.

“They are advocates of a clean, active and healthy lifestyle. They have not and will never get involved in drugs. They were resoundingly elected by the people of Ormoc and the 4th District of Leyte based on their solid antidrug campaign. So to those who are desperately trying to destroy their reputation you have been warned! Put up or shut up! We will see you in court!” Avisado said.

Veloso has previously denied links to the Espinosa drug ring. Petilla and Cari could not be reached for comment.

P8 million

During the same hearing, Sen. Leila de Lima, who is one of those in Espinosa’s blue book, was named by Espenido as having received P8 million from Kerwin, quoting the affidavit of the slain mayor.

“I don’t mind that you disclose because I know that my name is in the number one list if we are to believe the announcement of Secretary Aguirre,” De Lima said, referring to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.

Espenido then told the committee that not only the slain mayor but even his family members attested that De Lima had met and even talked for more than 20 minutes to Kerwin at Burnham Park in Baguio City. The Espinosa family even took a picture with the lady senator, he said.

But Lacson, who was presiding over the hearing, said politicians are usually approached by people, who want to have a picture with them.

At that point, Espenido disclosed that another son of the slain mayor, Kevin, had executed an affidavit claiming that he gave P8 million to De Lima at a restaurant in Pasay City.

Espenido said that based on Kevin’s affidavit, the money was given during a meeting at Dampa restaurant at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

De Lima had repeatedly denied receiving money from the illegal drugs trade.