Witnesses: Ex-mayor Espinosa did not fight back before fatal shooting

MANILA, Philippines — Two witnesses, a jail guard and an inmate, testified before the House Quad Committee, saying that former Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa had no means of fighting back and even pleaded for his life before being fatally shot by police officers.

At the ninth public hearing on Tuesday, October 22, lawmakers summoned inmate Donald "Dondon" Palermo and jail guard Julito Retana from Baybay, Leyte Provincial Jail to share their recollection of how Espinosa was killed in his cell.

In the interpellation of Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro (Batangas, 2nd District), Retana and Palermo denied the allegations of Superintendent Marvin Marcos that Espinosa carried a gun with him in the jail. 

Palermo, who was in a nearby cell with a clear view of those entering and exiting Espinosa’s cell, even said that he believes the gun was planted by police officers.

Marcos, in the previous hearing, cited this as justification for issuing a search warrant against Espinosa, who was already detained. He also claimed that police suspected the former mayor of possessing crystal meth, or shabu.

At 3 a.m. of Nov. 5, 2016, the day Espinosa was killed, Retana said he remembers three police cars approaching the detention facility’s gate and forcing themselves to enter. 

The police, identifying themselves as members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), demanded entry, claiming to have a search warrant — though Retana said they never showed it to him. 

Despite handing over the keys that could open the gate and other doors in the provincial jail, Retana recounted how the CIDG officers forced their way in, broke down the gate, and ordered the jail guards to kneel and "face the wall."

He estimates around five gunshots were fired inside the facility, which he heard from the jail’s perimeter. Even after the killing, Retana said the police officers did not leave all at once.

When the cadaver bags were taken out near noon that day, the jail guard said one contained Espinosa’s body, as they learned from his grieving family outside. The second cadaver bag, identified as Raul Yap’s, was confirmed by inmates.  

Espinosa's son, Kerwin, previously informed the