By Paulo Loreto Lim
After reviewing evidence surrounding the killing of suspected drug coddler Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa and fellow Baybay Sub-Provincial Jail inmate Raul Yap, the Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecution panel found probable cause to indict members of the police on counts of murder, malicious acquisition of a search warrant, and perjury.
The court filed one count of murder each for the deaths of Espinosa and Yap against Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Region VIII (CIDG-8) chief, Police Superintendent Marvin Marcos; Police Senior Inspector Deogacias Diaz III; Senior Police Officer 2 (SPO2) Benjamin Dacallos; PO3 Norman Abellanosa; PO1 JerlanCabiyaan; Police Chief Inspector CalixtoCanillas, Jr.; Police Senior Inspector LucrecitoCandilosas; SPO1 Mark Christian Cadilo; PO2 JhonRuelDoculan; and PO2 Jaime Bacsal.
Police Superintendent Noel Matira, Police Chief Inspector Leo Laraga, SPO4 Melvin Cayobit, PO3 Johnny Ibañez, and SPO2 Antonio Docil were slapped with one count of murder for the Espinosa killing; while SPO4 Juanito Duarte, PO1 Lloyd Ortigueza, Police Senior Inspector Fritz Blanco, PO1 BhernardOrpilla, and SPO2 Antonio Docil were marked for Yap’s killing.
Meanwhile, Laraga and Abellanosa were also indicted for the malicious acquisition of a search warrant.
Based on a previous investigation, it was discovered they both applied for search warrants before the Samar Regional Trial Court Branch 30.
Paul Olendan, an inmate who was also indicted, was said to have fed them information claiming Espinosa was in possession of a firearm and ammunition in his jail cell.
Olendan was also hit with a perjury charge.
An administrative complaint was also lodged against Judge TarceloSabare, Jr., who issued the search warrants.
Espinosa and Yap were both killed in a firefight after the CIDG officers visited the jail to issue the search warrant.
Authorities claimed Espinosa and Yap fired first./WDJ